KEYWAY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MEETINGS

June is Rotary Fellowships Month

BIRTHDAYS

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

ROTARY ONLINE

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

ROTARY CLUB OF
Atlanta West End

LEADERSHIP

Friday, June 26, 2026
This Week’s Program: Rotary Installation Ceremony

Please join us this Friday for our Rotary Installation Ceremony as we celebrate the transition into a new Rotary year and recognize our club’s leadership.

Outgoing Club President Victoria Seals and incoming Club President Chris Hempfling will offer remarks as we honor the service of the past year and look ahead to another year of fellowship, leadership, and Service Above Self.

When: Friday, June 26, 2026
Time: 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Where:
Atlanta Technical College
Brenda Watts Jones Allied Health and Technology Complex
1560 Metropolitan Parkway S.W.
Building H
Atlanta, GA 30310

We look forward to gathering with members and guests for this special occasion and celebrating the leadership and service that define our club.

June 12, 2026
KeyWay Report: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home

On June 12th, President Elect Chris Hempfling led our Annual Meeting with Sisters Teresa Maria and Sister DePaul at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home also known as the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, Servants for Relief of Incurable Cancer. We saw a photo of Rose Hawthorne … "Mother Mary Alphonsa", Foundress of the Sisters of Hawthorne, and also the daughter of acclaimed American author and story-teller Nathaniel Hawthorne. We learned of the foundress’s selfless motivations when she said, “ A fire was then lighted in my heart, where it still burns. . . I set my whole being to endeavor to bring consolation to the cancerous poor.”

Our visit’s purpose had several objectives: first, to recognize and thank the Sisters for the care so skillfully and faithfully given to all patients. Also, to receive a greater understanding of the purpose, work being done and history of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. Finally, AWER presented its annual donation obtained through contributions made by AWER Members given through its weekly Tasse Trivia game totallng one thousand dollars.

AWER Members present were led by Christopher Hempfling, AWER President- Elect, and included Frances Ellison-Dansby, Jared Evans, Marilyn Jackson, Eric John, Bee Long, Carolina Ramos, Neil Shorthouse. Together, members participated in the tour which included an understanding of its professional, complete and carefully provided services, spotless rooms and resources, its most elegant chapel and a view of the grounds of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home including seeing its huge Black Oak Tree, the oldest Black Oak in Georgia which is also one of the largest with a nearly 9 foot diameter; it is thought to be some 400 years old.

We also viewed a 6-minute Emmy-winning documentary and heard comments from Sisters who also answered questions about Our Lady of Perpetual Care Home which resides at 760 Pollard Blvd., SW, on block south of the Georgia State Stadium.

Finally persons facing incurable cancer and who cannot pay for the services in their final days and weeks or months of life occupy the center of Our Lady’s focus and purpose. The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne at Our Lady and all claim the highest privilege through their God-enabled love and service.

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On Sunday, June 14, AWER was present at the Atlanta Streets Alive event held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd from eastern end of Mercedes Benz Stadium and sponsored by the city of Atlanta. Those present: Chris Hempfling, Jared Evans, Bee Long and Neil Shorthouse met many strolling on MLK Blvd - some on bikes and children on trikes, who showed interest in AWER, several saying they wanted to attend an AWER meeting at beginning back at Georgia Tech on July 10^th or later.

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Keyway Speaker Reporters

Jared Evans, Chris Hempfling and Neil Shorthouse

Join the PolioPlus Society to Help End Polio

Rotary’s commitment to ending polio remains one of the world’s most important public health initiatives. The PolioPlus Society is a district-led recognition program for Rotarians who commit to recurring support for The Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus Fund.

The ask: Commit at least $100 per year (about $8.33 per month) and make the gift recurring. Small, steady contributions help sustain vaccines, transportation, disease surveillance, outbreak response, and the operational support needed to reach every child.

The power of matching funds: Donations to polio eradication through Rotary are matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation, so every $1 becomes $3 in impact. In addition, Vice Chair of End Polio Now Robert Hall has access to matching funds from a generous donor that may further increase the impact of contributions made by PolioPlus Society members.

For the 2026-27 Rotary year, District 6900 clubs are encouraged to support World Polio Day fundraising on October 24 and to work toward the $1,500 per-club PolioPlus giving goal. Joining the PolioPlus Society is one practical way members can help their club make progress toward that goal.

Recognition and credit: Contributions count toward Paul Harris Fellow recognition and membership in the PolioPlus Society and includes a lapel pin.

How to join:

• Visit EndPolio.org/Donate.
• Select the PolioPlus Fund and set up a recurring monthly, quarterly, or annual donation.
• Log in through My Rotary so your contribution and recognition credit are properly recorded.
• Contact Robert Hall with your name, Rotary club, and confirmation that you have committed to becoming a PolioPlus Society level contributor: rhallhrh@gmail.com | 678-429-2799.

Together, we will End Polio Now.

Calander, Agenda, Connections, & Four-Way Test

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.