Brown inducted as 100th Rotary Club president

Published 4:08 pm Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Each year in July, new Rotary presidents are inaugurated in all of the 34,000 Rotary Clubs within 200 countries of the world. The Rotary Club of Thomasville is no exception.  

Thursday, July 2, past Rotary District 6900 Governor Fran Milberg inducted John Brown to serve as the 100th president of the Rotary Club of Thomasville

In her remarks, Milberg said, “My challenge or opportunity to this club is that we should not just consider ourselves members of a Rotary Club. We are Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Thomasville. We should recommit ourselves to the service of Rotary, to understand that our generosity of our time, talents and/or resources are the only hope to break down the current barriers that get in the way of our service. We as a group can make a difference in this community.”

President Brown’s goals for his Rotary year are well on their way to being achieved. In his first remarks to the members of the Rotary Club of Thomasville, he listed his goals as:

• Using a Rotary District Grant in the amount of $1500 to help SPARK of Thomasville. SPARK is a program that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insight, relationships and tools needed to turn ideas into action and turn a passion into a sustainable and thriving endeavor.

• To memorialize and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Thomasville, President Brown, his leadership team and Rotary members, will donate a gift of trees to the City of Thomasville. The trees will become an ingredient of the Thomasville master plan for Paradise Park. The trees will eventually create a canopy over Broad Street and become a welcoming gateway between the medical center and downtown.

• In conjunction with the Southern Hospitality Group and Jeremy Emmett, the owners of the new Marriott, the most significant goal President Brown has is the construction of a fountain in the gateway entrance to the new Marriott at the junction of Dawson Street and Remington Avenue. Working with Emmett, a plan has been put into place that will build a courtyard and fountain. The area will be named in honor of Will Watt, founder of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Rotarian Scott Rich was instrumental in securing the plaza name and signage. The cost to build the plaza and fountain will be paid by Southern Hospitality. Rotary will pay for the signage in the area.

In closing, President John Brown asked members to save the date of May 6, 2021. President Brown announced a grand birthday celebration will be held on that date to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Thomasville.

New officers and directors sworn in during the Thursday meeting are: 

President Elect: Wayne Newsome

Past President: Kim Walden

Secretary: Angela Williamson

Deputy Secretary: Bill Dickey

Treasurer: Teri White 

Membership Directors: Adam Carvin and Janet Liles

Public Image Directors: Mike Bixler and Lauren Vann

Club Administration Directors: Cameron Jahnke and Hinson Arwood

Foundation Directors: Fran Milberg and John Glenn

Community Service Director: Adrian Burns

Youth Service Directors: Andre Marria and Carlton Bryant

Past Presidents Club Director: Scott Rich

Executive Secretary: Howard Stephens

Members serving District 6900 this year are: Teri White, District 6900 treasurer; Andre Marria, assistant governor; Terry Rouse, assistant governor; Scott Rich, GRSP trustee; and Kim Walden, zone public relations.