Weekly Newsletter
Week of Thursday, April 23, 2026
President’s Message
The excitement is building for our Roaring ‘20s Murder Mystery Gala, which is this Saturday, with 240 event tickets sold! Read below for more information.
We will also be visiting Providence Farms Dairy in Otto, NC, this Thursday. The link to our online sign-up sheet is below.
Recap from Last Week’s Meeting
We celebrated a lot at our last meeting—birthdays, wedding anniversaries, Rotary anniversaries, and Community Dental’s fifth year in operation! We also celebrated four recipients for their continued support of Rotary as Paul Harris Society members by donating $1,000 per year to Rotary International. Our District Foundation Chair, Bill Strickland, along with Elizabeth Gill, presented pins to David Tatum, Matt Mitchum, Lee Penland, and Scott Thompson. We also presented PolioPlus Society pins to five members who have made the pledge to contribute at least $100 per year to the PolioPlus campaign until polio is eradicated.
We then heard from three of our newest members: Dawn Hutchinson, Vicki Darrah, and Don Zimmerman. Each one gave a fascinating talk about where they came from, what they have done during their careers, how they came to Rabun County, and why they became Rotarians. We hope to have more new members speak as we continue to grow! If you would like to speak or if you know of someone that would be a good candidate to speak to our club, then please click on this link HERE and let us know.
See our Facebook Reel https://www.facebook.com/
This Week’s Meeting – Offsite visit to Providence Farmstead Dairy
We will be going off-site to visit with our own McCalister Russell as we travel to Providence Farmstead in Otto, NC. We will be some of the first visitors to the new customer facility and take a tour of their touchless dairy facility. We will be getting boxed lunches, so please be sure to let us know you are coming and if you are bringing any guests. Lunch Club members’ lunches are included; Impact members and guests are $15.00 each.
We will meet at the Food Bank parking lot and carpool. We will be leaving at 11:30.
IMPORTANT! If you want us to buy you a lunch, we need you to sign up by Wednesday by clicking: https://forms.gle/S4158TMxsE2V
Thursday, April 23, 2026
11:30 AM
Food Bank of Northeast Georgia – Clayton
Next Week’s Program – Fifth Thursday Social! Wines & Bites at Stonewall Creek Vineyards
FIFTH THURSDAY SOCIAL – NO MEETING
Next Thursday is the Fifth Thursday of the month, and as is our custom, we will not hold a meeting but will instead have a social. Come to Stonewall Creek Vineyards on Bridgecreek Road and enjoy some wine and light snacks while taking in the beautiful scenery. Susie Howard will be the host and has asked that you please sign up online using the link below.
SIGN UP ONLINE https://forms.gle/2Ri4h
Thursday, April 30, 2026
5:00 PM
Stonewall Creek Vineyards
Impact Club Update
See their service project below in Service Above Self.
Tuesday, April 28 | 6:00 PM
Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
Service Above Self
Mental Health First Aid Seminar
Friday saw representatives from 12 social service organizations come to our Mental Health First Aid Seminar at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.
Through a $1,500 investment and alongside twelve organizations working together, this important training equipped participants with the tools to recognize, understand, and respond to mental health challenges—skills that truly make a difference.
A special thank you to DBHDD (Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities) for traveling from Atlanta to provide this impactful training and help bring these critical resources to our community.
Food Distribution
We participated in the monthly food distribution this past Saturday at Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church. Over 15 Rotarians and the Interact Clubs from Rabun Gap Nacoochee School and Tallulah Falls School showed up to distribute 40,000 pounds of mostly produce. This food went to people who don’t always know where their next meal will come from.
Impact Club Making an Impact
Our Impact Club brought new life to Traces of Tiger with planting and beautification.
See our Facebook Reel https://www.facebook.com/
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COMMUNITY DENTAL CLINIC!
April 14th marked the fifth anniversary of the opening of Community Dental Clinic. Since its inception, it has served over 1,500 patients, generated 9,000 volunteer hours, and provided $1,750,000 in donated services.
The next clinic is April 24th from 8:00 to 12:00. Feel free to come and take a tour.
Rabun County Public Health Department
Roaring ’20s Murder Mystery Gala is this Saturday!
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Rabun County Civic Center Ballroom
Theme: Roaring ’20s Murder Mystery
Doors open at 5:30
The Roaring ‘20s Murder Mystery Gala is just around the corner. This is going to be a fun-filled evening with a silent auction, live auction, and the $10,000 Reverse Raffle.
The Silent Auction is now live!
Head there now to check out the incredible packages that we have available. Click HERE
Items included:
- Vacation Packages
- Private Airplane Ride over North Georgia
- Signed Sports Memorabilia
- Signed Music Memorabilia
- Signed Entertainment Memorabilia
Live Auction Items
- Extra Chance to Win $10,000 Raffle
- Braves Baseball Bash
- Portugal Trifecta Travel Package
- Hiawassee Musicfest
- Glorified Golf
- UGA Football Lovers Package
- America’s Mart Shopping Extravaganza
- Tedeschi Trucks Band Concert Package
The $10,000 Reverse Raffle Board
A delicious buffet dinner will precede our gangster-themed murder mystery. Folks are encouraged to come in their best 1920s attire.
We have some incredible sponsors! Please be sure to thank and do business with these great, community-minded people and companies.
Platinum Speakeasy Sponsors
Reeves Hardware
Jennifer Kyle – Luxury Lake & Mountain Properties
Chuck & Jeanne Rowland
Ray & Cynthia Pagano
Waterfall Club
Gold Gatsby Sponsors
Life Point Medical
Farmstead Market
Lake Burton Civic Association
Lockwood Contractors
Darrah & Co.
Silver Jazz Age Sponsors
Arbiter Veterinary Hospital
Meghann Brackett – Berkshire Hathaway
Tom & Becky Callahan
Gerald & Amy Hulett
Tim Ranney & Friends of Community Dental
Mountain Laurel Legacy – Laura Seberg
Sandy & Christie Simon
Rex and Vicky Veal
Bootlegger Sponsors
Stonewall Creek Winery – Program Sponsor
First American Bank & Trust
Should you have questions, call:
Laura Seberg — 941-799-9393
Important Dates
April 23 — Offsite visit to tour Providence Farmstead
April 24–30 — World Immunization Week
April 25 — Murder Mystery Gala
April 29 — Paper Shredding
April 30 – May 3 — District Conference
May 7 — Offsite visit to Rabun Gap Nacoochee School
May 16 — Club Leaders Learning Seminar, Lanier Tech, Gainesville
May 28–31 — RYLA
June 25 — End-of-Year Celebration
Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA)
May 28–31
Tallulah Falls School
Volunteers needed:
Counselors
Activity helpers
RYLA6910@gmail.com
www.ryla6910.com
District 6910 Conference
April 30 – May 3
Harrah’s Cherokee
Service Opportunity at District Conference
Cherokee Children’s Home needs:
If you are unable to attend the conference or participate in the service project at the Cherokee Children’s Home, you can still participate.
PLEASE DONATE ONE OR MORE OF THESE ITEMS:
Boys’ and girls’ NEW socks (all sizes up to adult size 9–11)
Boys’ and girls’ NEW underwear (all sizes up to men’s/women’s small)
Bring your donations to the Food Bank this Thursday and we will deliver them to Cherokee next week.
Attendees to the conference can put donations in the collection bins set up at Conference Check-In for your contributions.
264 attendees registered
Clayton has 17 — let’s grow that number!
Activities include:
Golf • Fly Fishing • Hiking • 5K • Bowling Social • Cultural Tours
https://myrotaryconference.com
Food Bank Donations
Most Needed Items:
Plastic grocery bags
Peanut butter & jelly • Cereal • Soups • Crackers • Rice • Chili & beans
Pasta • Sauce • Beef stew • Canned meats • Fruits & vegetables
Cash donations welcome
Checks payable to: Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
Memo: Rabun County
