Rotary Club of Duluth

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Rotary Club of Duluth

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Service Above Self is the motto of all Rotarians. As an organization we are committed to helping our communities -- local, state, and international.

Rotary club of Duluth meets every Wednesday morning at 7:30 AM at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, 1818 Club. We are a service organization focused on helping our local community and the world through Rotary International. We are an energetic breakfast club who welcome visitors and new members.

09/30/2026

Speaking for the Rotary Club of Duluth this morning, Angie Ulibarri, executive director of the Georgia Festival of Trees, joined by Laura Vladick, strategic partnerships manager, shared the magic of the event and its underlying purpose: to shed light on human trafficking and fundraise for Street Grace, an award-winning nonprofit that attacks this horrific, prolific crime at every stage--from prevention to restoration of impacted individuals.
*** Running from Sunday to Sunday, November 21 - 29 (closed Wednesday and Thursday for Thanksgiving), at the Gas South Convention Center, the family-friendly festival offers a feast for the eyes, an auction of the trees, boutique shopping, kids' activities, Macy's Pink Pig train rides through the venue, and more!
*** To learn more about sponsorships, ticket sales, daily themes, and special savings for seniors, first responders, armed forces, and those with disabilities, please visit https://gafestivaloftrees.org.
Pictured from L-R are Laura Vladick, Angie Ulibarri, and Rotary Club of Duluth President Kirk Deas.

09/16/2026

President & CEO of Leadership Gwinnett, Lisa Zaken spoke for the Rotary Club of Duluth this morning about the lasting impact of participating in Leadership Gwinnett and the initiatives underway to ensure its sustainability for generations to come. Since the application process can take time, she recommended Glance Gwinnett as a more immediate alternative.
Create Lasting Impact, this year's Rotary theme, perfectly aligned with Lisa's message.
For more information, visit https://www.leadershipgwinnett.com/.

09/04/2026

This week at Duluth Rotary, we celebrated international connections and opportunities to serve our community! 🌎🤝

Clara Kihl Wollesen, our Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) student from Denmark, shared a little about herself, her family, and what she’ll be studying during her year abroad at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC). We’re excited to welcome Clara and be part of her experience here!

We also heard from Beth Hoffman about volunteer opportunities at the Duluth Fall Festival. Mark your calendars for a weekend of great vendors, community fun, and headliner performances by Grand Funk Railroad and The Smithereens!

📅 Saturday, September 26 | 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
📅 Sunday, September 27 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Interested in volunteering? Log on to https://duluthfallfestival.org/volunteers/volunteer-information

09/01/2026

🎭 Behind the Curtain at Aurora Theatre!

The Rotary Club of Duluth recently enjoyed a backstage tour of Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville, led by our own member, Randy Redner.

Randy shared insights into the financial peaks and valleys theaters experience between productions—and how Aurora Theatre is building a more sustainable future through expanded programming, strong leadership, educational camps, and community partnerships.

Collaborations with Georgia Gwinnett College and the University of Georgia’s arts program are helping create new opportunities for students and emerging performers. We also learned about the incredible work behind the current production of Annie, featuring a cast of nearly 40!

Thank you to Randy, Katie, and the Aurora Theatre team for giving us a fascinating look at the creativity, collaboration, and business leadership that bring live theater to life.

08/26/2026

The Rotary Club of Duluth welcomed Ben Hartsock as our speaker this morning. Following an illustrious college football career at Ohio State, Ben went on to play for the Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, NY Jets, and Carolina Panthers.
More recently known for hosting College Sports Radio and Big Ten Channels for Sirius XM, he shared insights about the impact of the NIL (regarding the rights of college student-athletes to profit from their personal brand through endorsements, sponsorships, and appearances) on college football as we know it and the future of high school sports.
Ben is pictured (L to R) with Duluth Rotarian Jason DiFranco and Duluth Rotary President-Elect Bob Boyd.

08/11/2026

Another great morning at the Rotary Club of Duluth!

Mike Ringham shared an update on our sponsored Scouting units—Pack 420, Troop 419, and Troop 420—and the incredible impact Scouting continues to have on developing future leaders through service, leadership, and community involvement. We are proud to support these outstanding young people!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 10th Annual Cars for Campouts Car Show & BBQ on Saturday, October 3, from 9 AM–2 PM at First United Methodist Church of Duluth. It's a fun event for the whole family, with all proceeds supporting Scout Troop 419.

We were also excited to welcome our new Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) student, Clara Kihl Wollesen, who arrived on Monday! We look forward to sharing in her adventures and making her feel at home during her year with us.

Thank you, Mike, for a great presentation, and welcome to Duluth, Clara!

08/08/2026

A big thank-you to the dedicated members of the Rotary Club of Duluth who came out to Meadow Church Road this morning for our community road cleanup!

Thanks to the hard work and fellowship of our volunteers, we were able to keep Duluth clean, safe, and vibrant. Small actions like this make a lasting impact on our local neighborhood, proving that positive change starts right in our own backyard.

Moments like this truly embody the Rotary motto: "Service Above Self."

Grateful for everyone who gave their Saturday morning to serve our community. If you are looking for ways to give back and connect with purpose-driven leaders in Duluth, we welcome you to join us at an upcoming meeting or service project!

Pictured (L-R): , , Houston Bass, , and Kirk Deas

07/29/2026

We had a great program this morning at the Rotary Club of Duluth!

Our guest speaker, Mikhail Nudelman, founder of The Freedom Initiative, shared his incredible life story. Born in Soviet Ukraine, Mikhail spent the first 27 years of his life living under the Soviet system before escaping in 1978 and coming to the United States as a political refugee with his wife and young daughter.

Through personal stories and experiences, Mikhail spoke about the value of freedom, individual rights, and the importance of understanding history. His presentation reminded us that hearing firsthand accounts from people who have lived through different experiences gives us a greater appreciation for the freedoms many of us enjoy every day.

One of the things I love most about Rotary is the opportunity to hear from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Every week we leave our meetings having learned something new, and today was no exception.

Thank you, Mikhail, for sharing your remarkable journey with us. Your story gave us all something to reflect on.

07/23/2026

This week, the Rotary Club of Duluth had the privilege of welcoming Bobby Howard, a longtime friend of our beloved fellow Rotarian, Melvin Everson.
Bobby shared an update on Melvin's condition and reflected on the remarkable life of service and leadership that has defined Melvin's journey. Throughout his life, Melvin has dedicated himself to serving others, and his impact has been felt throughout Gwinnett County and across the state of Georgia.
Bobby, who has also spent decades serving our community through public service, business leadership, and an unwavering commitment to helping others, reminded us of the importance of friendship, faith, and being there for one another. His heartfelt message was a beautiful reflection of the lifelong friendship he and Melvin have shared.
Melvin has been a treasured member of our Rotary family, and as he continues his recovery, we ask everyone to join us in lifting both Melvin and his wife, Gerri, in your prayers. We pray for strength, healing, peace, and comfort for them in the days ahead.
Thank you, Bobby, for taking the time to be with us and for sharing your friendship, encouragement, and hope with our club. We know your visit meant so much to all of us.

07/16/2026

On Wednesday, Sergeant at Arms Ken Willers (L) launched this week's meeting with a heartfelt greeting and an inspired poem and prayer. He genuinely has a gift for his new role!
After, President Kirk Deas (R) shared his Rotary story, motivated by a deep desire to make a difference in our community. This year's Rotary theme, Create Lasting Impact, perfectly aligns with Kirk's goals to do just that by welcoming everyone's involvement in ongoing and new service projects and fundraisers.

Address

6500 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, GA
30097

Opening Hours

7:30am - 8:30am

Website

http://www.duluthrotary.com/

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