Unfortunately, the pandemic also affected the Paulding Rotary club meetings and regular interactions with the community. As restrictions subside the club has been quick to schedule meetings and address our annual local contribution obligations. Rotary member Matt Mason presents Ms.Trina Youngblood with the donation check.
Paulding County Rotary Club welcomed Mary Frances Bowley to our March club meeting. Introduced by member John Kueven of Paulding WellStar, Mrs. Bowley is the Executive Director and founder of Wellspring Living. Wellspring Living is a non-profit organization in Atlanta, Georgia that provides domestic sex trafficking victims and those at risk with specialized recovery services through three residential programs and two community-based programs.
The Paulding Rotary welcomed Dr. Kathryn Melton to our club meeting this past week. Dr. Melton is the founder and Director of Shepherd's Rest Ministries. Shepherd's Rest operates the county's women's shelter around the clock, 24 hours and 7 days a week to take and manage crisis calls from women and families need. Additionally, Shepherd's Rest works with the Sheriff's Dept and both Dallas and Hiram City police departments as well as all the other county agencies that are in place to help women and families in crisis.
Rotary Club member and local attorney Chad Plumley introduced Lisa Nevitt as our guest speaker. Mrs. Nevitt operates the Kennesaw branch for Lekotek of Georgia. This company provides opportunities for learning and play to children with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.
Club president Jackie Crum introduced Jason Reith and Shelley Martin of Kind Works United. Kindworks United is Paulding County's local support group for foster families that open their homes to provide stability for children in desperate need of a safe environment.
The Paulding Rotary Club welcomed Shirley Smith and Vicki Paris from Paulding Christmas to our February 25th meeting. The Paulding County Rotary Club is proud to organize the Invitational Christmas Parade in Dallas every year. Parade organizers Jackie Crum and Sam Elrod were happy to present a $5000 check to Shirley and Vicki of Paulding Christmas.
The Paulding County Rotary Club welcomed Ann Pennebaker to speak at this week's meeting. Introduced by club member Randy Arrowood, Mrs. Pennebaker is an author and educator turned recovery counselor involved in a local 12 step program fighting the disease of addiction. Mrs. Pennebaker comes from a highly trained and educated background. However, her passion for the fight against addiction is very personal.
Paulding Rotary Club welcomed Caroline Gränsbo, an international student from Sweden who is currently attending West Georgia University. Caroline is in the Georgia Rotary student program (GRSP). Paulding Rotary is one of three local Georgia Rotary Clubs sponsoring Caroline in the GRSP. Her Paulding-Rotary host family is Brian and Ashleigh Headrick. Miss Gränsbo is pursuing a degree in political science. Last semester she studied American Government learning about the Congress and the Senate for which she received an A in the class.
