The Glennville Rotary Club earned the coveted Blankenship Cup once again, for the sixth consecutive year, with the award presentation made at the annual Rotary 6920 District Assembly in Dublin, Georgia, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. This recognition is made to the Rotary Club in the 58-club district that has the highest per capita average over a three-year period in contributions to the Rotary Foundation. The Glennville club averaged $402.91 per capita, based on the 54 club members, over the past three years.
The three-year per capita average for the next four highest clubs were Perry, $337.96; Valdosta, $223.32; Jekyll Island, $210.31, and Skidaway Island Savannah, $199.91.
The top five Rotary Clubs in District 6920 for just the past year of 2022-2023 in Foundation giving were Glennville, $437.37 per capita; Perry, $361.30; Jekyll Island $261.46; Metro Savannah, $251.35; and Savannah South, $237.49.
In addition, in the award of district grant funds for the 2023-24 year, the Glennville club is third in the dollar amount awarded behind Macon and Savannah clubs.
Also, the Glennville Rotary Club had the third highest number of new members out of the 58 clubs in the district, adding 13 new members, behind the bigger clubs of Savannah West adding 23 new members and Savannah with 21 new members.
In attendance to accept the award for the Glennville club were Club Secretary Donald Fountain and Assistant Governor and Glennville club member Pam Waters.
"We are pleased with our giving to the Foundation, especially since this makes the sixth year of being awarded the Blankenship Cup. This is especially significant in that our members have made this financial commitment to the Foundation, which is the arm of Rotary that does good around the world," said Fountain.
The District Assembly was held at Oconee Fall Line Technical College from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meeting was opened by District Governor Heather Kellen, who introduced the new District leadership team for the 2023-2024 year, which begins July 1. Felix Smith, a retired veterinarian of Perry, will be the new District Governor.
Breakout sessions were held throughout the day, with sessions on DACdb (the information site for Rotary), Foundation, International Grants, Service Projects, Youth Programs, Public Image, and District Grants Training.
Rotary Youth Exchange is a recent youth program addition to District 6920, which is a youth leadership development program offered by Rotary. High school students from ages 15 to 19 years of age are eligible to apply to the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. This program provides for the student to spend a school year in a foreign country to gain global understanding and the promotion of peace. Students who are in the program learn a new language, discover different cultures and customs, and make friendships that last a lifetime. Also, clubs are able to host high school students from other countries, who live in the home of different Rotarians for three months at a time during the school year.
Attending District Assembly from the Claxton Rotary Club were President-elect Paul Coley and David Strickland. From the Hinesville Rotary Club attending were President-elect Terry Cook, Michelle Ricketson, and Daniel Dawson.
Rotary Foundation is the "doing arm" of Rotary, providing funds for projects in their seven areas of focus, which are centered on providing sustainable projects that are related to humanitarian, education, peace, medical, and environmental concerns.
