Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango convened the meeting.
 
 

Foundation 

Foundation Committee Chair Laura Lee Bocade announced Metro’s newest Paul Harris Fellows: Kelley Boyd (+1) and Denise McCoy. Jasmine Mills attended the meeting and we were able to present her with her Paul Harris Fellow certificate and pin.
 

Disaster Response 

Disaster Response Committee Chair Chelsea Sawyer invited members to join the committee after bribing everyone with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Contact her if you would like to get involved. As one of the tips offered to the club, she discussed her favorite (dripping in sarcasm) – the cone of uncertainty – and how misleading the cone can be.
 

Membership

Membership Committee Chair Katie Joyner reviewed the steps in the new member program process:
 
Prospective Member Responsibilities
 
  1. Guests interested in joining must attend one service project and two meetings.
  2. Then find two Metro Rotarians to serve as sponsors.
  3. Submit an application and pay $200 new member fee to begin the New Member Program
  4. Photo/bio are sent to communications committee to be featured twice in Rotary Repeats.
  5. Fulfill the five step new member program. Pay prorated dues. Induction.
Metro Member and Sponsor Responsibilities
 
  1. Identify the prospect’s two co-sponsors.
  2. Invite prospect to meetings, service events, and socials until they become an official member.
  3. Explain attendance requirements and types of meetings/schedule.
  4. Explain to the prospect that they are not automatically guaranteed membership. Current members, for whatever reason — personally or professionally — do have the right to speak up if they are uncomfortable with the prospective member. No reason must be given, but if one is offered, it will remain confidential. Members should send communication to the president and membership chair.
  5. Once a prospect’s application is approved and the $200 new member program fees have been paid, coordinate two group meetings and share the ABCs of Rotary.
 
Missed a meeting? Here are ways to get back on track:
 
  1. Visit Rotary EClub One.
  2. Attend another club’s meeting.
  3. Donate $25 to our Girls on the Run fundraising committee.
  4. Attend a munch.
  5. Attend a Metro Board Meeting, every second Thursday at 8 a.m. at Corporate Environments, 2 E. Bryan St. Suite 1500B.

Program

Program Chair George Seaborough announced upcoming events:
 
Lunch Meetings
  • Aug. 17: Tiffany Collins, executive director of Girls on the Run
  • Sept. 7: Savannah State University Interim Provost and Vice President Dr. Semetria McFall. The meeting will be held on the SSU campus.
  • Sept. 21: District Governor Ed Presnell. The meeting will be held at First Presbyterian Church.
Social: Aug. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Taste of India
 
Fifth Tuesday of the Month Special Social: Aug. 31, 5:30 at Starland Yard
 

Service

 
Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley reminded members to donate business clothing to the Interact Club at Woodville Tompkins. Donate two pieces of business wear and you’ll receive one service credit for a maximum of three credits. Contact Kristen to coordinate drop-off.
 
On Aug. 21 from 9 -11 a.m. Girls on the Run needs help packing snacks for the school year. The location will be announced soon. Contact Kristen for details.
 
It’s time to start planning the annual service fundraising party. Email Kristen and Cecilia to volunteer. And save the date for a Tybee Beach Clean-up to be held on Sept. 21.
 

Literary 

Literary Committee Chair Julie Wade has established a partnership with Hubert Middle School, where 30 incoming 6th graders read at a pre-K level. An Amazon wish list will be created with required reading books to be sent directly to the school and volunteers will be needed to read to students. A volunteer training session will be scheduled soon, along with a writing and oratory contest in the spring, and an end of the year ice cream and pizza party to celebrate gains in literacy. To get involved, contact Julie.
 

Georgia Rotary Student Program

 
Georgia Rotary Student Program Host Florence Slatinsky announced that Sophie Bohl arrived on Aug. 2. Florence will let us know of future dates where we can meet Sophie.
 

Featured Speaker: Maryann Brickey, Live Oak Public Libraries

 
Brickey, senior library manager at Southwest Chatham Library, shared some snapshots from 2020-2021. During that time the libraries had 722,424 visitors and 117,119 account holders. She reported that 849,367 items were checked out and 107,588 e-resources were downloaded, during the same period. Community engagement activities undertaken by the library system include a community book donation program, Ready Readers at Mercer Middle School, and the Books on the Go homebound mail service.
 
Brickey also shared information on Live Oak’s early literacy, student success, access to technology, and economic empowerment support programs. In addition, she highlighted new innovation initiatives including Story Walk at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, Literary Scavenger Hunts with Bike Walk Savannah, and the Seed Library with Chatham County Extension, Islands Farmers Market, and Forsyth Farmers Market.
 
A donation to Girls on the Run in Brickey's name will be made by Metro. 
 

New Members Program Spotlight: Derek Goldfarb

 
Goldfarb is director of partnerships for the new 9,500-seat Savannah Arena scheduled to open in 2022. As a member of the Oak View Group Facilities team, which will manage and operate the new Savannah Arena, he will be responsible for securing a naming rights partner, creating founding partners, and developing advertising and promotional relationships.
 
Goldfarb is a nearly 20-year veteran of selling naming rights, sponsorship sales and premium seating for arenas and stadiums across the United States. He joins Oak View Group Facilities from the South Carolina Stingrays Hockey Team, an ECHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, where he served as chief revenue officer overseeing advertising sales and business development. A Native New Yorker, Goldfarb resides in Richmond Hill with his wife Sara, and their children, Connor and Noelle, and beagle Lemmie.
 

Late Breaking News: Updates from After the Meeting

 
Beginning with the Aug. 17 meeting, face coverings will be required inside the J.E.A. except when members, guests, and speakers are eating.