The Glennville Rotary Club Awards and Installation Celebration on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, included the installation of local attorney Dylan Mulligan as the new president for the 2022-23 year as well as recognizing the club's achievement of every member of the club as a Paul Harris Fellow. This recognition is the second time in the club's history that this distinction has been accomplished.
Also, an emotional part of the 11:30 a.m. event was a special remembrance of Dennis H. Strickland, 2011-2012 Glennville Rotary Club president, who died suddenly on January 13, 2022. His widow, Sindy, and their twin sons, Jack and Clint, attended, as did his sister, Susan Nobles, and nephew, Nic Nobles. A candle was lit with his banner of the year he served as president displayed along with his Rotary name badge.
Dylan Mulligan extolled the many attributes of Dennis, who, in all capacities in which he served, was always a generous giver, silent benefactor, and humble servant: Glennville City Council member, pharmacist, deacon and choir member (and sometimes choir leader) of First Baptist Church, local businessman, dedicated family man, and loyal supporter of Pinewood Christian Academy (PCA) and the University of Georgia Dawgs.
He lauded Dennis for not only his service but for silently fulfilling whatever he undertook, not seeking accolades nor recognition.
"Our Rotary motto, 'Service Above Self', truly described Mr. Dennis, and he faithfully implemented the Four-Way Test in his own life. Until he drew his last breath, he gave everything he had for his Savior and for his fellow man," Mulligan said.
Shellie Smith, 2021-2022 President, was presented with the Rotarian of the Year Award as well as the Past President Plaque. She was thanked for her service to the club the past year and her support of the club projects. Shellie was commended for her involvement in many community clubs and events.
Special recognition was given to Allison Cobb and Jim Wimmer for their financial and online assistance with the Glennville Rotary Club annual fall auction for the past two years. They were both made honorary members of the Glennville Rotary Club, with the presentations made by Auction Co-Chairs Darla Kicklighter and Tiffany Sittle.
Darla and Tiffany related how the two had contributed significantly to the continued success of the club's annual auction, which last year raised $40,000.
"Their contributions have been exceptionally valuable. Both have used their skills, talents, and expertise to set up and manage our on-line auction. They have also contributed an extraordinary amount of time and significant financial resources in support of this project. This year, we presented $15,000 in scholarships to local students," Darla said."Furthermore, the club's Board has voted to make both Allison and Jim a Paul Harris Fellow during the 2022-2023 Rotary year. With this distinction of $1000 given to the Rotary Foundation in each of their names, much good will be done in our local community and across the globe," Tiffany said.
Donald Fountain pointed out that the Glennville Rotary Club contributed over $24,000 to the Rotary Foundation during this current Rotary year of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.
"Since our club was formed in November of 1984, almost $200,000 has been given to the Foundation," he said.
The 2022-2023 Glennville Rotary Club officers were installed as follows: President, Dylan Mulligan; Past President, Shellie Smith; President-Elect, Joe Sikes; Treasurer, Chris Roessler; Secretary, Donald Fountain; Sergeant-at-Arms, Joe Skeens and Clyde Davis; and Board members Greg Parker, Lee Dubberly, and Terry Waters.
Those Rotarians who were recognized with a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) Award ($1,000 to the Rotary Foundation) for the first time are as follows: Rob Barry, Chase Bradshaw, Tim Cooper, Kimberly Craft, Stan Dansby, Roderick Dunham, Lynda Goodell, Wes Kicklighter, Quentin McArthur, Logan McCullough, Kyle Sapp, Reid Stone, Michael Thompson, and Kristen Waters.
Other recognitions were as follows for this Rotary year: PHF+2, Tammy Waters; PHF+3, Darla Kicklighter and Tiffany Sittle; and PHF+4, Dennis Strickland.
In 2021, the club added two Major Donor Awards ($10,000), who were Donald Fountain and Zuber Malek.
Perfect attendance awards were presented to the following: 37 years, Troy Rahn (perfect attendance and charter member; 27 years, Wayne Dasher; 9 years, Paul Stavriotis; 4 years, Shellie Smith and Pam Waters; 2 years, Terry Waters and Zuber Malek; and 1 year, Greg Parker and Dylan Mulligan.
District 6920 Governor Ed Presnell for 2021-2022 and District 6920 Governor for 2022-2023 Heather Kellen were warmly welcomed to the Glennville Rotary event, along with Hamsa Thota, District 6920 Foundation Chair.
Those who had served as club officers and others who assisted in other ways during the 2021-2022 year were presented with a certificate and a donation of $50 in each of their names to the Rotary Foundation.
Another award was presented, a first for the club, a Young Entrepreneur Award, to 15-year-old Dawson Cromer, an aspiring student and 4-H member who has started his own business of D&M Balloons (phone 912-837-1452). His balloon designs in yellow and blue creatively decorated the Glennville Garden Club Center, where the event was held. Dawson is the son of Amy Lands and Buz Cromer and the grandson of Judy and the late Jody Blanton. He commented that he was inspired by his parents and grandparents to make good use of his time.
Donald Fountain, who coordinated the installation and awards banquet, also serves as District 6920 Youth Service Chair.
Hamsa Thota commented that Glennville Rotarians are making an impact now and into the future, with the recent Serbia Rotary project one such example, while furthering U.S. national interests as well. The Heart of Europe MBot Robot project benefited more than 40,000 students at over 100 schools in Serbia by teaching basic computer coding skills to middle grade students.
"Now, just imagine what we can do into the future," Hamsa said, referring to the 2022-2023 District 6920 theme of "Rotary: Imagine."
Heather Kellen read her favorite short children's book titled Whoever You Are, written by Mem Fox, which emphasizes that we are all different but then alike in so many ways.
"The Rotary family is what brings us all together, and imagine what we can do in Rotary in our future," she said.
During the event, President Shellie Smith thanked her fellow Rotarians for their support, which has included the canned food drive, fall online auction, reading to Glennville Elementary students, and other projects.
In closing, the special challenge for CART (Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust) during the event raised $1,513, with $913 coming from individual Rotarians, $500 from the club, and $100 from the auction of a polished wooden bowl donated by Wayne Dasher.
Ending the event was the drawing of tickets for door prizes, donated by Lisa Barry of McCurdy's on Main, Cadence Bank, Rotary Corporation, Wayne Dasher, and Mascot Pecan Company.
