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February is Peace and Conflict Prevention Month

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ROTARY CLUB OF
Dunwoody

LEADERSHIP

This Week's Speaker
Dr. T. Albert Davis, "The Importance of Friendship"

Join us this Friday at Maggiano's to welcome Dr. T. Albert Davis and hear his perspectives on "The Importance of Friendship."  Dr. Davis is a psychiatrist based in Cumming, Georgia.

Dr. Davis has degrees in Chemistry and English from Southwestern at Memphis and the University of Florida.  He received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and did his residency in Psychiatry there. Dr. Davis served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam war as chief of inpatient psychiatry services at Eglan Air Force Base in Florida. After serving many communities throughout Georgia, Dr. Davis opened the Center for Psychotherapy in Cumming, Georgia in 2008 where he is in practice today.

Dr. Davis and his wife Carolyn live in Cumming, and have three adult children - Brooke and Gus are pursuing medical careers and Thomas a career in architecture and landscape architecture. Dr. Davis has volunteered with the Boy Scouts as an Assistant Scoutmaster. He loves gardening - especially trees and roses - and is an active member of St. David's Episcopal Church in Roswell.

In Memoriam
Remembering Will MacArthur

Rotary’s world shines a little less brightly today with the passing of William “Will” MacArthur of Sandy Springs, Georgia—a devoted Rotarian, a joyful servant leader, and a beloved friend to many. Will served as our Assistant Governor and attended many of our events over time - always sharing his energy, wisdom, sense of humor and the spirit of Rotary with everyone he met. 

Will’s Rotary journey was marked by unwavering dedication and an infectious spirit. Most recently a member of the Rotary Satellite Club of Stone Mountain Passport, he served as Foundation Chair and resident champion of good humor, lifting spirits as naturally as he lifted service projects. Before joining the Passport club, Will contributed profoundly to the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs, where he faithfully served three years as Treasurer, four years as Foundation Chair, and ultimately as Club President in 2017–18. His commitment only deepened after his presidency, as he continued to guide and encourage fellow Rotarians through three years as Assistant Governor, helping our own club and other clubs across the district reach new heights.

Dunwoody Diners
Last Chance to Sign Up: Join Our Valentine's Day Vietnamese Food Adventure!

The next Dunwoody Diners adventure features Vietnamese Food, as we gather on February 14 at Nam Phuong at 6:30 pm. We had a fabulous gathering there last year - with GRSP student Hoa Nguyen there to guide our food choices - and rumor has it that she will join us again this year.

The address is 4051 Buford Highway NE 30345. The phone number is 404-633-2400. Please RSVP by February 7 to Sherry Levy at sherrylevy13@hotmail.com. Please note that parking is at a premium, so please try to carpool with a fellow Rotarian. If you have any questions regarding transportation, please let Sherry know. Thank you very much. 

Getting to Know You
Past President Jack Sparks, a Heart for Service

Jack Sparks didn’t just join Rotary; he was "nudged" into it by local icon and colleague, Baku Hoshi. “Baku was all about this community,” Jack recalls. She convinced him that to truly live and work in Dunwoody, he needed to be a Rotarian. At the time, Jack managed the Citizens Bank branch in Dunwoody; today, he channels that same entrepreneurial spirit into his franchises, Mosquito Joe of North Atlanta and Wonderly Lights.

A Heart for Service

Jack’s Rotary journey is defined by his passion for "serving those who need it most." This drive was solidified alongside Roy Ethridge at Dresden Elementary. Working with his wife, Marcela—a nurse—Jack supported the "First Tuesday" series, connecting immigrant families with vital legal and healthcare resources.

Through Marcela’s work with Tapestri, Jack has faced the sobering realities of human trafficking and domestic violence. These experiences shaped his tenure as Club President (2023-2024), where he championed high-impact projects including assembling survival backpacks for Tapestri victims, preparing meals for The Sandwich Project, and organizing Thanksgiving turkey baskets for families of Kingsley Elementary.

Beyond the Club

For Jack, Rotary is the bridge that spans the gap for underserved populations. When he isn't volunteering, he enjoys life with Marcela and their three children: JT, Emma, and Ethan. The Sparks family recently returned from a magical holiday in Finland, complete with reindeer sleigh rides and the Northern Lights.

Golf Tournament Update
Our Goal: Get Every Rotarian Involved!

Of course our number one priority is fundraising - the FORE! the Memories Golf Tournament is our number one fundraiser and we're hoping to have our most successful year ever, so that we can do more in the community! But let me "tee up" another goal - as President Matthew said last Friday, we'd like to see each and every Dunwoody Rotarian take part in the May 18, 2026 event! How???

• Make a donation - in any amount. You can do that at our website: FORE! the Memories – Rotary Club of Dunwoody Charity Golf Tournament
• Volunteer to work at the tournament. Contact Alison Norris if you are interested! Be sure to pick up your Tournament Golf Hat at check-in, All RCD volunteers will receive a tournament golf hat!
• Buy a $50 Ditty Bag at Check-In which includes entry to the $5,000 Putting Contest, 2 Mulligans, 2 Drink Coupons and a few special items from local businesses.
• Have a burger or hot dog after the tournament and enjoy complimentary beer and wine! All Dunwoody Rotarians are welcome to come for dinner!
• Help Neil McDonald with the auction - by donating items or helping with set up.

Thank you for your support!

Anchor Place Respite
Harmony & Hearts Gathering: Valentine's Day 2026

We're excited to be hosting a free, fun community-wide event for people living with dementia and their caregivers on Valentine's Day from 11am-1pm in the St Pat's social hall (4755 North Peachtree Rd., Dunwoody). We have a delicious menu from E 48th St Market planned and our friends at Arosa Care Management have arranged for the band "Loose Shoes" to come play for us. 

If you know a caregiver for a person living with dementia who would enjoy a free, fun Valentine's social event, please help us spread the word about the Harmony & Hearts Gathering. Registration can be done via anchorplace.org or directly via this link.

Laws of Life
Congrats to John Mills ... and More!

On Friday, January 23, John Mills pulled the joker and won our Laws of Life jackpot - totaling $424. Remember that the other half of the money collected - another $424 - will go to support prizes for the annual Laws of Life Essay competition. 

Speaking of that, don't forget that your opportunity to be a judge for the 2026 competition is coming up soon!

Judges read students’ reflections on a character trait—often describing the experience of essay writing as eye-opening and deeply rewarding.

• Judges are typically Rotarians from sponsoring clubs (and we are - and have been - since George Stewart first got us involved with Laws of Life)
• Judges work in teams
• Judging takes place in February and March
• Training and scoring rubrics are provided

Sign up to be an essay judge: https://georgialawsoflife.org/volunteers/

New Member Breakfast

Dave Burr and Bob O'Brien hosted new members Juan Lago and Jason Creech for breakfast at J. Christopher's last week. Dave meets three or four times a year with the club's newest members to review club's activities, highlight the charitable fund, provide an overview of the club's history, and answer questions.