Atlanta West End  

KeyWay

February 24, 2026

This Week’s Program: Annual Business Meeting

This Friday, we will hold our Annual Business Meeting, as required by our club bylaws, on or before the last Friday in February. This meeting ensures accountability, transparency, and leadership continuity as we prepare for the 2026–2027 Rotary year. This is one of the most important governance meetings of the year. Your presence helps demonstrate our shared commitment to responsible self-governance and ensures a strong quorum. A quorum, defined as one-third of the club’s members excluding honorary members, must be present to conduct official business. Virtual attendance counts.

This Annual Business Meeting serves as an opportunity to reflect on where we stand in membership, service impact, Foundation support, status of our utilization of District Grant funds, and overall momentum as we close out this Rotary year and prepare for the next.

The Treasurer will present a Financial Report, offering transparency on the club’s fiscal health and stewardship of member dues and project funds. Accountability and ethical leadership are central to who we are. Please note that annual per capita dues to District 6900 are increasing from $55 to $60 in the 2026–2027 Rotary year, which will reduce AWER operational funds if club dues are not adjusted accordingly when our own 2026-2027 Club Budget is prepared.

Voting Matters: Election of Officers and Directors for Rotary Year 2026–2027

Members will choose leadership for Rotary Year 2026–2027. The business of this club is conducted by voice vote or a show of hands except in the election of officers and directors, which is conducted by ballot. Voting on club business may be conducted, when required, via email, text, and online tools. Votes cast electronically have the same effect as votes cast in person.

The candidate who receives a majority of the votes for each office is declared elected to that office. If only one person is nominated for a position, that candidate is elected by acclamation.

Per Article 8, Section 2 of the club’s bylaws, the standing committees of the Rotary Club of Atlanta West End are Club Administration, Membership, Public Image, Service Projects, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and The Rotary Foundation. The chairs of these committees serve as the non-officer directors of the club, and descriptions of each committee’s responsibilities can be found in the bylaws.

This annual meeting is our moment to reflect on what we have built together, to steward what has been entrusted to us in the legacy of this special Rotary club, and to choose the leaders who will guide our next chapter of service. When we show up, participate, and vote, we strengthen not only our club, but also the example of principled self-governance that Rotary represents, which is exactly what is needed in our current day and age.

Join a Montgomery Day Trip to Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Sites - Sunday, March 15, 2026

Seats remain for this meaningful and reflective day trip to Montgomery, Alabama on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Rotarians are invited to participate in this shared experience hosted by Indivisible Cobb in partnership with the Rotary Club of Atlanta West End . The excursion will include guided visits to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice , the Legacy Museum , and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park . These powerful sites were created by Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative to honor the history of racial injustice while fostering reflection, truth telling, and reconciliation in America.

The bus will depart at 8:00 AM and return by approximately 8:00 PM. The destination is located at 417 Caroline Street, Montgomery, AL 36104. Six (6) seats remain available. Rotarians from other clubs are also welcome to join this experience of learning and fellowship.

The registration deadline is Sunday, March 1, 2026. Those interested are encouraged to register promptly using the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe11O6eMJfDbibaxITjpmXQvX_Q7jB8-nM9rbOr0vINETOKwQ/viewform?usp=header 

This visit offers a shared opportunity for education, reflection, and fellowship grounded in Rotary’s commitment to service, understanding, and community engagement.


February Focus: Peace and Conflict Prevention

February is Peace and Conflict Prevention Month in Rotary, reflecting the organization’s long-standing commitment to building a more peaceful world through service, dialogue, and understanding. Rotary International chose this focus to highlight the belief that peace is not only the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, opportunity, and strong relationships within and among communities. Rotary’s work in peacebuilding ranges from supporting local conflict resolution efforts to sponsoring peace fellowships that train leaders in mediation, diplomacy, and humanitarian service. By dedicating a month to this theme, Rotary reminds members that promoting peace begins with ethical leadership, respect for diversity, and service that addresses the root causes of conflict. Through these efforts, Rotarians help create conditions where lasting peace can take hold.

Calander, Agenda, Connections, & Four-Way Test

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Works

  • 3/6: Maritza McClendon - Olympian and Community Advocate
  • 3/13: Don Schewe - The Evolution of Information
  • 3/20: Hon. Brad Raffensperger - Georgia Secretary of State
  • 3/27: Brandon Butler - Founder of Trust Fitness
  • April Program Dir. Bridgette
  • 4/11: District Learning Assembly, Columbus, GA
  • May Program Dir. Carolina
  • June Program Director Needed!

Sign up to be a program chair here today! June needs  YOU!

Meeting Agenda

  1. Call to Order
  2. Invocation & Pledge
  3. Introduction of Guests
  4. Tasse Trivia
  5. DEI Moment
  6. Announcements
  7. Program/Speaker
  8. The Four-Way Test
  9. Adjournment

westend@rotary6900.org

facebook.com/RotaryAWE

inforotaryawe@gmail.com

@rotaryatlantawestend

atlantawestendrotary.org

LinkedIn.com/company/rotary-club-of-atlanta-west-end 

Never a Bad Time to Catch Up (ON DUES)!

District 6900 has updated to a new Stripe ACH payment process. The new method is more convenient and more secure. If  you pay your dues via ACH (and you should!), go to YOUR PAGE on our club website (Click here) and use the Setup ACH button to relink your account. Should you encounter any problems, click the Contact Webmaster link in the page footer.

MEETINGS

February is Peace and Conflict Prevention Month

BIRTHDAYS

3/6 Patricia Pichardo

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

3/12 Neil Shorthouse (49)

ROTARY ONLINE

https://atlantawestendrotary.org
https://rotary6900.org/
https://rotary.org/

ROTARY CLUB OF
Atlanta West End

Fridays, 12:15 pm
Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center*
800 Spring St NW
Atlanta, GA 30308

SOCIAL MEDIA

FacebookLinkedInInstagram

LEADERSHIP

President Victoria Seals, PhD
President-Elect Christopher Hempfling
Immediate PP Jared Evans
Vice President Christopher Hempfling
Treasurer Rose Caplan
Secretary Neil Shorthouse
Public Image Jared Evans