October 16, 2023
Meeting Minutes
President Bill Keogh rang the bell and called the meeting to order.
Jimmy Richards led us in the Pledge and Invocation.
Matt Barrett gave the Sunshine Report today.
Dat Hoang called on club members to introduce their guest in attendance today.
Interact Students from Richmond Academy and Davison Fine Arts introduced themselves. This was the first meeting for our Davison Fine Arts students.
President Bill asked everyone to contribute to the blue buckets on the tables. You may give online at mycartfund.org. Login credentials are the same as DACDB. Also, please complete our club’s Google form to sign up to be a Cart Challenger
Club Ambassador:
Anna Reeves shared her visit with the Pigeon Forge club.
Upcoming Club Programs and Events
- Brad Usry (New Augusta Arena Referendum Update) – October 23rd.
- World Polio Day – October 24th
- New Member Orientation Day – October 24th, 4:30 pm
- Ronnie Kirtz (P&Z Director, Grovetown) – October 30th
- District Governor, Felix Smith – November 6th
October 24 is also World Polio Day, a global day to raise awareness and resources for the worldwide effort to eradicate polio. The eradication of polio has been a Rotary goal since 1978, and the disease is closer to eradication every year. Please support Rotary's efforts if you can by either donating at myrotary.org or through a collection we will be taking up at the Club at that week's meeting. Every bit helps!
Look for news soon on this year's Signature Fundraiser and on our upcoming Rotary District Grant Project. Rotary helps our community through the generous donation of time and resources to worthy causes. In a word, Rotarians make things better. Thanks for all you do in that regard!
New member orientation will take place on Tuesday, October 24, at 4:30. The location is Enterprise Mill. If you are a "red badge," this is your opportunity to complete your introductory phase of the Rotary journey. If you have any questions, please contact Herb Upton (706.724.8122).
Today’s Program
Dr. David Hess gave us an update an overview of Wellstar MCG Health partnership. He reported of the Doctor shortage in Georgia. 89 of the 159 counties are designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage areas. With the need for more doctors the MCG 3+ Pathways program allows students to complete medical school in three years instead of four along with other incentives. Also, there are plans to expand the Medical schools to Savannah and Atlanta.
- Wellstar MCG Health partnership has financially stablilized the academic medical center in Augusta.
- This is a “member substitution agreement” with a 40-year lease. It is not a sale. Board of Regents continues to own the hospitals.
- Wellstar MCH Health provides a larger and more stable clinical platform to educate our medical students and residents.
- There is very strong MCG faculty support for Wellstar MCG Health.
- An MCG Clinical Regional Campus will be established in Atlanta (Kennestone) by January 2025.
- Governor Kemp, the Georgia Legislature, and Chancellor Sonny Perdue/Board of Regents provided outstanding support and were critical to the success of the partnership.
President Bill led us in the four-way test and then adjourned the meeting.
Easy links to pages on our website
Rotary schedule of meeting dates and speakers
Member Proposal Form
Online directory - Find a member or update your information
Bulletins - Weekly bulletins from 2014-current
