Banks County Rotary is made up by a diverse group of civic and community minded individuals who want to make their Community the best it can be. Our club offers opportunities for our members - and those interested in making a difference - to get involved. Through meetings, social events, and volunteer projects, our members learn about the issues facing our community and communities all over the world, partnering with local, national and global experts to exchange ideas about potential solutions and to draw up action plans to respond. Along with these opportunities to serve, members are also regularly able to network, resulting in lifelong friendships and business connections. Our club is a proud part of this community and of Rotary International. Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million members who believe that great things happen when dedicated minds come together. We are community and business leaders representing different professions, experiences, and perspectives, but with a shared desire to connect with others to address the challenges affecting our community and communities around the world. Solving real problems takes real effort, commitment, and vision. Rotarians work to protect communities from preventable disease, keep women and children healthy, improve education and economic outcomes, create safe water and sanitation infrastructure, protect the environment, and make our community and the world a more peaceful place. Close to home we are working with various partners on the following projects:
*FOOD-2-KIDS - Partnering with the Banks County School District, the North Georgia Food Bank and the Banks County Interact Clubs, we send home sacks of food every week during the school year for 100 students in need. This has been the club’s signature project since 2011.
*CART Fund - Members work to raise funds throughout the year for the 'Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust,' a special initiative of the Rotary Clubs of North America.
*LITERACY PROJECT - Beginning in 2020, each week the club donates a book in the name of the featured guest speaker at club meetings, to the Banks County School libraries.
*ENDING POLIO - Partnering with Rotary International, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF to end Polio, once and for all.
*BROTHER JIM MCLENDON MEMORIAL ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP - A charter member of the club, Brother Jim left quite a legacy in the community. So much so, that the Banks County Commissioners established April 25 as Brother Jim McLendon Day in Banks County every year. In his honor, in 2020 the club has established an annual $1000 scholarship for a graduating senior that will pursue a career path in ministry or a related field.
*ROTARY SALUTES - Beginning in 2020 the Banks County Rotary Club initiated an annual distinguished service awards program to honor first responders and community servants.
*DOING GOOD FUND - With the long term goal of eventually creating a local foundation that will be able to help fund future good works and projects in Banks County from the interest earned, in 2020 the club started a savings endowment fund. The seed money ($5,000) was generated, in part, by a very generous matching contribution by the club founder, Jerry Boling, along with an operational budget surplus that year. Since then the club has developed a tradition of allocating the annual budget surplus, along with any other fundraising, to this fund.
