Welcome to the Rotary Club of Rome, Georgia!
We are a passionate group of community-minded individuals dedicated to making a positive impact both locally and globally. With a spirit of fellowship and service, we work together to support causes that matter—promoting education, health, and peace. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or new to the area, we invite you to join us in creating lasting change and building stronger connections. Together, we can make a difference!
Rome Rotary Seeks District Grant for Handicapped Accessible Wildlife Viewing Platform
This is a conceptual drawing of the proposed District Grant Project for Rome Rotary during the 25-26 year. The platform will be constructed along the trail behind Advent Health Stadium, near the trailhead behind the stadium. It will overlook the retention pond which gets a lot of wildlife activity, particularly the fall and winter months. The club should know if a grant has been funded by the middle of September, perhaps sooner.
Kyle Wingfield sees future with freedom and opportunities
Kyle Wingfield, head of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation told Rome Rotarians that his organization will undertake an effort to help Georgia grow into an even stronger and more prosperous state in the future. The Foundation chief told 45 Rome Rotarians that one of the benchmarks for the future success of a skilled workforce involves the ability of every child to learn to read by the 4th grade. "You learn to read by 4th grade, then read to learn," Wingfield said. Education, taxes, housing and transportation were earmarked as issues to keep a close eye on as the state seeks to continue its place among the best places for companies to invest in the United States.
Matthew Levin also helped induct his wife Paulette Levin as the last new member during President Jan Fergerson's term which saw the Rome Club lead District 6910 in net new members !
Berry President Dr. Steve Briggs cites accomplishments over two decades prior to retirement
Retiring Berry College President Dr. Steve Briggs compared the role of a college president to that of a rowing team's coxswain Thursday, June 12 during a presentation to Rome Rotary. You steer, you set the tempo and you shout out words of encouragement he told 65 club members and 20 guests. Dr. Briggs said he was proud of the culture that has been created at Berry, proud of it's steady, manageable growth over the last 19 years and proud of the stability within the administration and faculty.
Briggs said he tried to work on one or two major projects a year during his tenure at Berry, from the growth of sports to the addition of several new academic programs sine he took over in 2006. He also explained. to a very surprised audience, that animal science was now the top major at Berry.
Dr. Briggs was also able to introduce his successor, Dr. Sandeep Mazumder to the leadership of Rome. We are certainly hopeful that Dr. Mazumder will become a member of Rome Rotary once he settles into the community.
Rome Rotary also inducted two new members, Joshua Childers and Eric Collins.
Marine Corps history revealed for Rome Rotary
Sgt.Maj. Johnny Higdon, USMC Ret., offered Rome Rotarians a glimpse into a challenging times during World War II when the Marine Corps was initially integrated. Higdon said that some 20,000 African Americans came through Montford Point, the segregated Marine Corps training base between 1942 and 1949. The Montford Point Marines are desperately seeking to identify survivors, and survivors families to be able to honor them with Congressional Gold Medals for their service.
Rome Rotarians distribute ice cream at ESP summer camp
For the second year in a row, members of Rome Rotary took a couple of hours out of their regular Monday morning routines to distribute ice cream to Extra Special People, students at the ESP summer camp for children with a variety of special needs. After a morning outdoors in the hot June summer sun, the kids enjoyed popsicles, Buddy bars and frozen Snickers on their way back inside the Georgia Highlands College campus Lakeview building.
Rome Rotary and Rome Floyd Chamber combine for Legislative Wrap-Up
Rome Rotarians joined with Rome Floyd Chamber business leaders May 29 to get a briefing of activity under the Gold Dome during the 2025 legislative session. Senator Chuck Hufstetler (at podium) and Representatives Eddie Lumsden and Katie Dempsey discussed a broad variety of topics from tort reform to health care and fielded questions regarding coin operated gaming machines and immigration reform during the hour long meeting at the Coosa Country Club. It marks the third year that Rome Rotary and the Chamber have worked together to host the session.
Rotarians celebrate Marine Corps birthday (a little early)
Retired Marine Corps Lt. Col John McGuire, (right) senior vice commandant of the Jake Puryear Chapter of the Marine Corps League took Rome Rotarians on journey through Marine Corps history May 22 and got a jump start on the Corps' 250th birthday (actually November 10). McGuire useda Marine sabre to cut the cake and presented the first slice to President Jan Fergerson, the second slice to the oldest Marina, Allen Judd and the youngest Marine Cpl. Nate Smith. Judd and Smith then exchanged slices symbolizing the passing of the torch to the next generation of Marines.
Trafficking not just a metropolitan problem
Lindsey Lane with the Human Trafficking Institute, a former Assistant US Attorney in North Carolina, now a resident of Rome, explained to Rome Rotarians that one of the keys to stopping human trafficking is to shine the spotlight on the problem. She debunked a number of myths, such as most cases involve kidnapping or people driving creepy white vans around shopping malls or issues related to the border crisis. "The ties that bind victims of trafficking are invisible. They are things we can't see, emotional, mental and psychological." Lane also explained that most victims are initially approached over the Internet. "They are operating in plain site."
Unity Christian Interact is Club of the Year for District 6910
The Unity Christian Interact Club was named Club of the Year for District 6910 at the District Conference on Jekyll Island in late April. The club is 18 members strong and led by longtime teacher Mary Holcomb. It's the second time in three years that the Unity Club, sponsored by Rome Rotary, has received District honors. Congratulations to Mary and all 18 members,
Fran Bastias-Arevalo heading back to Chile
Rome Rotary's 2024-2025 GRSP student Fran Bastias-Arevalo has been an absolute delight throughout the year, making it to an overwhelmingly large number of meetings thanks to GRSP Trustee Cheryl Freeman. Fran hails from Santiago and is looking forward to reuniting with her family but she is certainly sad to have her year in Rome come to an end. She has made a lot of friends in Rome and among the three dozen or so GRSP students from around the world. What better "peace building" exercise than to have young adults from across the globe come to Georgia for the summer to learn the 'reality' of American culture.
