Our Stories
Featured Speaker  July 2026
 
 
Kickstands UP!
 
The 2026–27 Rotary year officially kicked off as President Ro Patrick introduced this year's bold new theme, "Rev the Engine," inviting Metro members to embrace their inner rebel while staying committed to service, fellowship, and community impact. Members met the new Board of Directors, got a first look at the year's "Rebel Ride Outs" program series, learned about upcoming service projects, youth initiatives, and events, and welcomed new member Carrie Friend, who shared her inspiring Classification Talk. It was an energetic start to what promises to be a fun, meaningful, and Ridiculously Awesome Rotary year. Check out the meeting deck below for a full look at what's coming this year.
Club Updates July 2026

GUESTS:​​​​​​

  • Alyiha Burnett - (Cari Phelps’s niece- 5th grader from FL)

  • Marjorie Young - DG

  • Danny Howell - ED Royce  School (relocating from Sandersville GA- Rotarian)

  • Kat Clark - Savannah Music Festival- Development (Guest of Jamie Arkins)

 

July 7 COMMITTEE UPDATES:

  • Meeting Slides Link: Metro Club Meeting 7.7.26.pdf

  • See Calendar for all service opportunities

  • Subscribe to Metro’s Calendar: Click Here. click on Subscribe to Calendar at the bottom (Google, Apple, Outlook compatible)

  • Hope & Relief for Venezuela: Amazon Wish List 

    • Any questions? Contact Ruth Hudson 512.657.7697

 

SERVICE: See Events Calendar for all service opportunities and sign up online

  • Subscribe to Metro’s Calendar: Click Here to subscribe. 

 

GRSP/GYESE:

  • Conclave Dinner Tickets: Click Here.

  • URGENT: Host families needed! Click Here

  • Conclave is in Savannah this year! Save the Date: Aug 21-23. Sign up for service slots!

  • GRSP 2026-20/27 is Sarah Gomez Jordan from Colombia! We need female hosts during school vacation time. Reach out to Aaron Miller if you are interested.

RYE:

  • SAVE THE DATE: Payton’s Send-off Dinner July 29th 

ASP: Shelter From the Rain

    • Pick-Ups (7 recurring Wednesdays)

    • Pack Attack (4- once per quarter)

    • Holiday Fundraiser 

    CLUB:

    • August 24th- RSVP by Aug 15th: District Joint Council

    LEGACY PROJECT UPDATE:

    • Jordan Chase announced that we finally have approval for the project from the City of Savannah.
     
    DISTRICT:

    • Video - District Governor Beverly Trainor

    • Marjorie Young presented information about $77,000 raised to buy robots for 5th graders 5 years ago- now these students are participating in robotic competitions! They are looking for 10 people to go to Serbia as Peace Ambassadors.  

      • Two options:

        • Sept 25th-Oct 3rd

        • Oct 2nd-Oct 10th

    • Responsible for your own airline ticket. 

    • Reach out to Marjorie if you are interested! marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

     

    MEMBERSHIP MINUTE: Brad Patrick

    • Warning label: Do Not Bother When Hangry. 

    • Bucket list: Rafting the Grand Canyon. 

    • Metro has given him community.

     

    CLASSIFICATION TALK/INDUCTION:

    Carrie Friend has been with the Red Cross for 7 years and was inspired to join Rotary for community connections and specifically because Metro is the “fun club:” Carrie grew up in Chicago, attended USF in Tampa, then moved back to Chicago and began her career at a social service agency at Community Alternatives Unlimited where she remained for 17 years. She re-met her husband John (who she attended High School with) and they fell in love with Savannah and were married here. They have two dogs, Boggs & Pinky, and are habitual foster fail owners. Carri loves reading, cooking, she has a huge record collection, and bases travel choices on music & food. (sponsors George Seaborough and Jessica Pedigo)

     
     
    NEW MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM:
    • Torlef Borsting
    • Sally McCoy
    • Kristen Burger
     

    PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS: 

    • Torlef Borsting recently moved to Savannah with his wife, Cass, and two children, Tresler & Charlie to become the Executive Director of the Savannah VOICE Festival. He has worked at nearly every level from customer service to cultural development to new locations and research then shifted to singing for opera companies all over the US. The new job combines his business experience with his love of Opera. (Torlef was a Rotarian in Deland, FL.) Sponsors: Kristin King & Jamie Arkins

    • Kristen Berger works at Magmutual as a Business Development Officer. Her degree is from NC State with a BS in Business/Finance. She and her husband, John, have 2 aussiedoodles Teddy and Max, and she is currently on the board of Tharros Place. Sponsors: Julie Wade & Florence Slatinsky

    Upcoming Events
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    From the President
     

     

    A Message from Our President

    Welcome to Metro Savannah Rotary!
    I moved to Savannah from DC in 2016, but for the first few years, I mostly experienced the city from a distance. Between remote work and constant travel, I struggled to find my footing and didn’t yet feel like I truly belonged here. That changed when I joined Metro Savannah Rotary. This club gave me something I didn’t expect: a new side of Savannah and a community of people who finally made this city feel like home.
     
    Metro doesn’t just connect you to service projects, it connects you to Savannah in a way that’s hard to find anywhere else. And through Rotary International and our District, we’re part of something even bigger: a global network of people doing meaningful work around the world. Local impact, global reach. We get to do both, with people who are genuinely, ridiculously fun to be around.
     
    My vision for this year is simple: Rebel with a Cause. Rooted in Rotary’s timeless motto of Service Above Self, it’s a reminder that showing up for our community doesn’t have to be buttoned-up. It can be bold, joyful, a little scrappy — and yes, a lot of fun. Around here, every idea goes through one test: Will it be ridiculously awesome? If the answer is yes, we’re in.
     
    This year, we’re going to show up for Savannah and beyond like never before, make a meaningful impact on the issues that matter most to our community, and have a blast doing it.
     
    If you're looking for a place to give back, make real connections, and find your people in this city — come join us. We'd love to have you.
     
    Yours in Service,
    Ro Patrick
    President, Metro Savannah Rotary Club, 2026-2027

    president@metrosavannahrotary.org

    2026–2027 Board
    Club Leadership
    President
    Ro Patrick
    President Elect
    Jamie Arkins
    Immediate Past President
    George Seaborough
    Secretary
    Jaimie Falzarano
    Treasurer
    Jasmine Mills
    Chief Officer of Fun
    Cecilia Arango
    Legacy Project Chair
    Jordan Chase
    Service Chair
    Ruth Hutson
    Disaster Response Chair
    Chelsea Sawyer
    Family of Rotary
    Chelsea Dye
    Foundation
    Whitney Shephard
    Grants & Annual Service Partner Chair
    Cari Phelps
    Interact & Rotaract
    Ben Barksdale
    Youth Programs & GRSP Liaison
    Aaron Miller
    Membership – Retention
    Florence Slatinsky
    Membership – Recruitment
    Emily Doherty
    Programming Co Chair
    Deanna Whitt
    Programming Co Chair
    Suzanne Kirk
    Communications Co Chair
    Kristin King
    Communications Co Chair
    Katie Fender
    Communications Co Chair
    Destiny Mojica-Taylor
    Sergeant-at-Arms
    Kat Erickson
    Club Information
    We meet In Person
    Tuesdays at 11:45 AM
    Harvest Church
    5995 Waters Ave
    Savannah, GA 31406
    United States of America
    Meetings are every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 11:45 a.m with the program starting at noon. Additional events are listed in our calendar on the Events tab.
    Venue Map