Message from President Trummie Lee
Dear Rotarians, This week, I invite you to reflect on the idea of heroes — not just those in history books or Hollywood scripts, but the everyday heroes who walk among us. Heroes don’t always wear uniforms or capes. Sometimes they wear Rotary pins. They show up early to volunteer, mentor students, raise their hands when others sit back, and give generously of their time, talents, and treasure. They stand for service above self — and in doing so, they inspire the rest of us. We’ve seen this heroism in our own club: - In members who coordinate service projects that touch lives.
- In those who lead with compassion and quiet strength.
- In those who honor the legacy of past leaders while building for a better future.
Let’s also remember and honor our community’s heroes — first responders, teachers, nurses, public servants, and volunteers — many of whom we will recognize later this year through our “Honoring Our Heroes” initiative. Their work deserves not just our applause, but our partnership. I challenge each of you this week to be someone’s hero. It might be as simple as listening, encouraging, or stepping up when no one else will. Because when we live with purpose, serve with heart, and act with courage — we all have the power to be heroes. Sic Vos Non Vobis, Trummie Lee Patrick III
75th President, Roswell Rotary Club Leadership in Action: Rotary Welcomes Georgia’s Attorney General Chris Carr
Rotary is honored to welcome Chris Carr, who has served as Georgia’s Attorney General since 2016. His tenure reflects a steady commitment to protecting the state’s citizens through initiatives such as the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, rescuing over 200 children, and the statewide Gang Prosecution Unit securing more than 100 convictions across the state. Carr has helped shape policies that aim to address organized crime, opioid addiction, and retail theft, tackling some of our most challenging problems. His Statewide Opioid Task Force has been cited as a national model securing more than one billion dollars for our state and local governments to expand access to critical treatment, prevention, and recovery services. In 2024, he established the Organized Retail Crime Unit to investigate and prosecute large-scale theft rings. His work often draws collaboration from public, private, and nonprofit sectors across Georgia. Carr also brings a background in economic development, having served as the Commissioner of Economic Development under Governor Nathan Deal. His efforts attracted significant business investment and job creation statewide. Georgia was recognized as the top state in the nation in which to do business for each of the three years he served in office. Chris’s early career concentrated on law and policy, including time spent advising Senator Johnny Isakson on legislation and Federal and Supreme Court nominations. Chris is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and Lumpkin School of Law. This week's program offers an opportunity to hear about the experiences of someone who’s worked across different levels of leadership in Georgia. We look forward to an engaging and thoughtful discussion. For more information from his official site, click here. Heroes Among Us
July Hero- Jarrad Turner Sr.
Roswell Rotary is pleased to honor Jarrad Turner, Sr. as a hero who has not only served his country, but has also served other veterans in such a meaningful way. Jarrad served in the Army for ten years, and was deployed twice to Iraq. He was medically retired due to injuries sustained on his deployment and now applies his military and nonprofit leadership experience as the Chief Executive Officer of Veterans Technology Solutions (VTS) USA. VTS is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Under his guidance, VTS focuses on driving innovation in data storage, cybersecurity, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions tailored to healthcare and government sectors. Leveraging his background, Jarrad is committed to advancing technology that addresses veterans' unique challenges, including improving healthcare outcomes for those diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). His leadership is transforming VTS into a premier provider of data center infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions for enterprises, educational institutions, and public sector organizations. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Jarrad is a member of the Shepherd’s Men, a group dedicated to raising funds for the Shepherd Center SHARE Military Initiative. The program treats service members, veterans, and first responders with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Since 2014, over 125 million people have seen the team, and it has raised over $15 million. In 2018, Jarrad and Scott Johnson founded The Warrior Alliance, creating a platform that serves over 12,000 veterans across the southern United States. His efforts culminated in the opening of a 5,000-square-foot veteran support facility at the Battery Atlanta, which the Atlanta Braves donated. Jarrad has also worked on two research studies for the Department of Defense (DoD). PROFESSIONAL & ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS Jarrad serves on the Board of Directors at the Shepherd Center, ranked among the nation’s top rehabilitation hospitals, and was appointed by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dennis McDonough to the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation (ACDC) in 2023. In 2024, he was recognized as one of the Mighty 25 by We Are The Mighty. We Are the Mighty is an annual award given to the top military influencers throughout America. Jarad was also featured in the 2024 Under Armor and Project Rock campaigns. More than six million viewers saw his story. HOBBIES & FUN STUFF Jarrad believes in giving back and living life to the fullest. He has coached boys' lacrosse at the middle and high school levels. Over the last decade, Jarrad has completed two Tough Mudder races, four Spartan Races, six half-marathons, three marathons, ten century cycling races, and three half-Ironman races. EDUCATION His academic achievements complement Jarrad’s professional journey. Jarrad graduated from Alabama State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. He completed the Executive Leadership Program for Nonprofit Organizations (ELPNO) at the University of Georgia (UGA) in 2018 and the Arthur M. Blank Executive Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at Babson College in 2023. 2025-26 Board Member Spotlight
Michael Agurkis-Treasurer
Returning to the Rotary Board for round two of service during his 10-year Rotary journey, Michael is a proud Atlanta native and UGA grad. His two decades at Commonwealth Financial Planners have been spent helping families plan their financial futures, right here on Canton Street. When he’s not zipping around in a golf cart at the Rotary Golf Tournament, you’ll find him in his woodshop, relaxing at the lake, or enjoying time with his wife, Sarah, two daughters and their loyal Labrador. Fun fact: While at UGA, Michael traded Athens for Brisbane, Australia for six months, learning to drive a stick shift left-handed, mastering awesome Aussie slang, while pretending vegemite tastes good. 1st Project of New Rotary Year
Packing Backpacks at Rotary Meeting Thursday July
1st Service Project for the new RRC Year: The HHH Backpack Stuffing is this WEEK! Please plan on staying for about 30 minutes after the meeting to help stuff the 40 backpacks for the middle school students at Crabapple Middle School in need. Starting the school year with all the required supplies is a great confidence boost for each student… Thank you, Roswell Rotary Members & Guests, for your support by buying the supplies, stuffing the supplies and leaving a love note inside too. Middle School is one of the hardest stages of life (as we all can attest). Huskies Helping Huskies is a 501(c)3 dedicated to helping those in need affiliated with Crabapple Middle School… yes, this does mean students, but we have also helped staff and families to introduce resources, professionals, and services. Anything that we see can provide better attendance and attention for the middle school student(s). Roswell Rotary Club members Rabbi Alex Shuval-Weiner & Priya Crumpton have been working with HHH Directors Kristi Glickman & Tamika Bond to set this fast-paced, high impact service project. See you there! Beverage Committee Ask for Tournament
Need Your Coolers and Your Beverage Contacts
Cheers to a Great Cause: Help Stock the Golf Tournament Coolers! The Beverage Committee is calling on all Rotary members to raise a toast—to fundraising! Our annual golf tournament is fast approaching, and we’re in need of beer donations and 32 coolers to keep drinks ice-cold and camaraderie flowing. Whether you have connections in the beverage industry or simply want to support this meaningful event, your contribution will help make the tournament a refreshing success. Every cooler counts, and every donated drink makes a difference. To lend a hand, contact William Lindsey wlindsey@cpalgm.com or Kevin Jordan kevin.jordan@leapfrogservices.com. Let’s tee up generosity—together! The Cooler Ask: Lend us your cooler for the day? The Donated Beverage Ask: Contacts for beer donations? Personal donation? Beverage Sponsor Opportunity? Fundraising Beyond Rotary
In 2024, Joe Mazzeo led the Roswell Rotary Golf & Tennis Tournament. Joe was especially successful with bringing the greater community outside of Rotary into his fundraising efforts. "We all have our own network, our peeps-you know, the work, social, family, and friends. And these are all potential members, sponsors, players for our tournament. And if somebody doesn't live nearby or can't physically attend, I just want to give them the opportunity to be included." He continued, "My goal is to make it simple for my circle to participate with me in the Tournament. We are raising money for grants to so many local charities who desperately depend on our contributions. Working with this tournament has enhanced my life profoundly and I want my friends and associates to have a chance to share in the experience with me." Below are Joe's Best Practices for including non-Rotarians in your fundraising asks: Make It Simple There are three ways to participate- - Play Tennis, Pickleball, or Golf on Sept.8
- Volunteer on Sept. 8
- Sponsorship or Individual Donation
Make It Easy - Birdease Link Just Click
- Joe sends one email with the details and the ask
Make It Meaningful (Because it is!) - Goal $300K. Imagine how much good our charities can do with those funds.
- Local charities- Improving our community
- One contribution benefits 27+ charities
- Touching so many lives-youth, seniors, single parents, victims of human trafficking, etc.
- Being part of something larger than yourself
- Tell your own story
Here are some of the resources Joe uses. Use them, make them your own, share them. Give the people you care about the opportunity to feel the joy and pride and belonging that you feel as you work with the Tournament. It's a chance to spread that great feeling of Service Above Self! Sample Template to personalize and use with your own network: https://roswellrotary.club/resource/1452 Video to share What is Rotary 4.4 min: https://youtu.be/ppaFHpiOELA 1. Why Rotary 1 min https://youtu.be/pTrjPZmUiKE 2. The Charities Speak 2.25 min https://youtu.be/sAO0V-pCvHw 3. The Tournament 22 sec. https://youtu.be/HXkWwb7xrzc 4. Thank you from Our Charities35 sec. https://youtu.be/lk5EP0y6J8k
Technology Assistance at Rotary
We heard you and we are going to be hands on in the meetings to assist you with your Rotary tech questions. Are you clueless about QR codes? Not sure how to use Sign Up Genius to volunteer? Want to learn how YOU can help Roswell Rotary expand our message just by liking, following, and sharing on social media? Want to sign up for Club texts? Wish you had the Rotary Club contacts in your phone? We heard you and we are going to be hands on in the meetings to assist you. RRC Past President & Tournament Volunteer Chair Nancy Alterman will be ready with her laptop to sign you up to Volunteer for the tournament. The Public Image team will be available to answer your questions and get you set up. Just look for the signs on the table and come see us! It's also a great way to get to konw your 2025-26 Public Image team! Let's get everyone in the club plugged in. What's Your Number?
Growing Roswell Rotary
"What Gets Measured, Gets Done"
-Peter Drucker In President Trummie Lee's remarks last week to the club and again in his president's message this week, he asked our club to focus on inviting friends and neighbors and co-workers to come join us at Roswell Rotary and share in the joy and service generated by this club. The more engaged members we have, the more projects we can take on and the more we can serve our community. And he has placed a stretch goal in front of us of 50 new members. How can we each make sure that we are part of reaching this goal? Let's make a new member pledge. Remember the pledge cards you signed in church? Let's each make a pledge to bring in a new member this year. Some may want to pledge more. But if we all make this our goal and stay accountable, we will naturally be bringing more guests with us and mentioning Roswell Rotary more in our personal interactions. Membership Chair Courtney Lott will be speaking to the Club on Thursday about this new membership pledge initiative. Let Courtney know your number! courtney.lott@kw.com We will have pledge cards and an electronic method to register your pledge next week, but if you know it now tell Courtney! You can use index card on your table and hand your number to Courtney today! Last Week at Roswell Rotary
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