Rotary Club of Duluth

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

We had another great program at the Rotary Club of Duluth this morning as we learned about the inspiring work being done by Jennifer Elinburg and Carrie Walton, co-founders of Brightside Cafe and the Brightside Forever Foundation.

What started as a vision became a reality in February 2024 with the opening of Brightside Cafe in downtown Buford. Their mission is to create meaningful employment opportunities and a sense of belonging for individuals with special abilities.

We also learned about THE BEAN (Brightside Empower Ability Network), which helps educate local employers on how to successfully hire and support individuals with special abilities in the workplace.

Be sure to check out the Brightside Games coming up in October and support this incredible organization as they continue making a difference in our community.

06/17/2026

We had a great crowd this week as we welcomed the passionate CJ Bentley of Planned PEThood, and it was an eye-opening look at how prevention and accessible veterinary care can make a tremendous difference in animal welfare.

For more than 16 years, Planned PEThood has focused on providing high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services, performing approximately 60 surgeries a day. Their mission goes far beyond veterinary care. By making services affordable and accessible, they help families keep their pets healthy and in their homes.

One of the most impressive initiatives is their mobile spay/neuter unit, which travels directly into underserved communities several times each year to provide care where it's needed most. With four veterinarians on staff and a focus on education, support, wellness care, and prevention, Planned PEThood is creating solutions that address the root causes of pet homelessness rather than simply reacting to the problem.

In 2025 alone, Planned PEThood performed 5,759 spay/neuter surgeries, provided 4,839 affordable wellness appointments, assisted 1,202 pets through free vaccine outreach programs, and facilitated 444 adoptions. Their vision is simple: keep pets healthy, keep them home, and strengthen the entire animal welfare ecosystem.

Thank you, CJ, for sharing the incredible work Planned PEThood is doing for pets and families throughout our community.

06/03/2026

This morning were honored to welcome Rotary District 6910 Governor Jessica Fleetwood to the Rotary Club of Duluth this week!

Jessica shared the incredible impact Rotary is making both locally and around the world. District 6910 consistently ranks among the top districts in contributions to The Rotary Foundation and contributed more than $1.6 million last year alone. Those funds support clean water initiatives, education, healthcare, disaster relief, and Rotary's continued fight to eradicate polio.

She also highlighted our district's disaster relief efforts, including more than $100,000 provided to communities affected by Hurricane Helene and a recent $50,000 grant to help restore a Girl Scout camp near Augusta.

Another exciting update was that District 6910 has welcomed more than 400 new members this year while continuing to focus on member engagement and retention.

Thank you, Jessica, for your leadership and for reminding us of the tremendous impact Rotary members make every day through Service Above Self. Together, we are making a difference in our communities and around the world.

06/01/2026

What a great way to spend a Saturday morning!

Five Rotarians and two future Rotarians came together for our roadside cleanup, helping keep Duluth looking its best. It may not be the most glamorous service project, but it's one of the many ways we can make a difference right here in our own community.

A big thank you to everyone who gave up part of their weekend to help out. Service projects like this remind me that when people come together with a common purpose, good things happen.

05/27/2026

What a fun and informative morning with the Rotary Club of Duluth hearing from Mark Adams and Jason Rozier of Operation One Voice.

They shared powerful stories and real-life examples of how Operation One Voice serves former Special Operations Forces members and their families, continuing to honor the memory and wishes of Bill Stevens through meaningful support and action. From immediate care and rehabilitation programs to family support and adaptive sports, the impact they are making is truly incredible.

In advance of the upcoming car show, Mark Tyrell also presented a $9,500 check to Operation One Voice in support of their mission.

And to top off the morning… after an entire year of no one winning our club raffle, Mark finally took home the win today!

Great fellowship, lots of laughs, and an inspiring reminder of the good happening in our community.

05/14/2026

While enjoying her lively presentation, the Rotary Club of Duluth picked up invaluable insights about being healthy and fit at all ages from Almina Kovac, a Gwinnett-based personal trainer. Almina (pictured with Duluth Rotary President Ryan Jones) helps men and women grow stronger and more vital through individualized, sustainable plans that complement their lifestyles. Visit: www.alminakovac.com

05/04/2026

We had a great on-site visit to The Water Tower in Buford. It was really interesting to see how much is happening there around innovation, workforce development, and community impact.

Melissa Meeker, CEO, shared how their focus is on expanding access to water careers and helping solve one of the industry’s biggest challenges, recruiting the next generation. Their programs are hands-on and intentional, from research and development to training and networking.

One of the highlights was learning about the Water Innovation & Leadership Student Summit. It gives high school students real exposure to career paths in the water industry through interactive experiences and direct connections with professionals.

There is a lot of work happening here that supports both the industry and our local community.

Proud to have this right here in Gwinnett County.

04/22/2026

This morning, the Rotary Club of Duluth had the pleasure of hearing about the updates in minor league baseball and upcoming events at Gwinnett Field from Nick Bernabe, assistant GM of the Gwinnett Stripers.
Nick is pictured (L) with Duluth Rotary President Ryan Jones.
For this season's schedule, events, and tickets, please visit: https://www.milb.com/gwinnett

04/15/2026

The Rotary Club of Duluth's meeting today began with a check presentation to Frontline Response, a worthy beneficiary of our Stars of Gwinnett Talent Show. Pictured (L-R) are Frontline's Georgia Executive Director Will Butler, Duluth Rotary President Ryan Jones, and Frontline's Atlanta Director of Anti-Sex Trafficking Simone Singleton. For more info. about their incredible work: www.frontlineresponse.org
We then learned about the exciting advancements in women's volleyball plus other fun facts from the Atlanta Vibe's General Manager and Assistant Coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn and Director of Community Engagement Stacey Dunn. When not on the court, the Vibe's outstanding athletes are not only busy training and sometimes playing overseas but also hosting clinics for young players, visiting children in hospitals, and so much more. Gas South Arena is the Major League Volleyball team's home court, and tickets are still available for their last remaining games of the season. Pictured (L-R) are Duluth Rotary President Elect Kirk Deas, Laura "Bird" Kuhn, Ryan Jones, and Stacey Dunn. For more information: https://provolleyball.com/teams/atlanta-vibe