President's Message
“You’re going to find out about it anyway, so here’s a little preemptive truth-telling… There is no happy ending. The ride is sometimes smooth, sometimes hard and ugly. That’s life”— Anthony Bourdain, world traveler and global storyteller.
As we step into 2026, that honest reflection feels especially fitting. Most of us have written down resolutions—health goals, professional ambitions, promises to be better spouses, parents, friends, and Rotarians. But beneath the “what” of those resolutions lies a deeper and far more powerful question: What purpose and meaning are we attaching to the commitments we make to ourselves?
Our speaker last week challenged us to consider, in less than a minute, what we truly want out of life and what would make us happy in life. Is the answer simply checkboxes on a list, or are they signposts pointing us toward a life of greater fulfillment and service? Happiness, after all, is not a future destination we eventually arrive at—it is a practice we engage in every single day.
The 1960’s philosopher Alan Watts offered a powerful way to think about this. He once said that:
“Most people live life like it’s some type of tightrope, one wrong move, and poof down you go. So, they grip; they grasp; they try to control it all. The more you try to clutch the river, the faster it slips through your fingers. Now, of course I’m not saying don’t try. Do your best. Absolutely! And once you’ve done that, let go. Let life dance with you a little because the whole thing isn’t a war. It’s a play. You were meant to enjoy it. People ask me all the time, what’s the meaning of life. And I say, well, what’s the meaning of a piece of music? You don’t play it to get to the end. If that were the point, composers would just write one loud crash at the end and be done with it. You play music to enjoy the notes. So it is with life. It is with life!”
That idea cuts straight to the heart of how we live—and how we serve. We live in a culture of waiting. People spend all day waiting for the evening and work to be over. They spend the entire week waiting for the weekend. Then they wait all year for summer, and a lifetime for happiness, accomplishment, or meaning. But happiness is not waiting in the next vacation or just beyond the next milestone. It is not somewhere ahead of you. It is now. The habit of postponing joy is the habit of missing life. Stop waiting for the perfect moment—there is no such thing. There is only this moment, and what you choose to do with it. You don’t wait for happiness. You practice it.
The great writers and storytellers have echoed this truth for centuries. Ralph Waldo Emerson reminded us that “life is a journey, not a destination.” The ancient parable of the Chinese farmer—who meets every triumph and tragedy with a quiet “maybe”—teaches us that meaning is rarely found in a single outcome, but in how we walk through each chapter with humility and purpose. Even Robert Louis Stevenson captured it beautifully: “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.”
Rotary understands this better than most. “Service Above Self” is not a slogan reserved for the end of a project or the moment a goal is reached—it is a way of moving through the world. The meetings, the planning, the setbacks, the small victories, and the quiet acts of kindness along the way—that is the journey. And in that journey, we practice happiness by practicing service.
As we move through this new year, may we not rush to the “final note” of the song, but take the time to enjoy each measure—to be present, to serve, and to let life, and Rotary, dance with us a little along the way.
Sic Vos Non Vobis,
Trummie Lee Patrick III
President, Roswell Rotary Club
Speaker Thursday 1/22 Kit Cummings
Note: Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King who was originally scheduled to speak on 1/22 had to cancel to attend the unexpected funeral of a staff member. He will reschedule. We appreciate Kit Cummings stepping in at the last minute!
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Time: 12:15 pm
Location: Roswell Area Park
Bill Johnson Community Activity Building
10495 Woodstock Road
Roswell, GA 30075
Kit Cummings is an Award-Winning Author | International Speaker | Team Builder, Peacemaker & Storyteller
Kit’s passion, his gift for storytelling, and his entertaining style will have your team on the edge of their seats. His unique message of peace, conflict resolution, and team-building has been used to bring about change in corporations, sports, schools, prisons, and faith-based communities. [read more]
New Member Spotlight
Welcome New Member-Vanessa Snyder
Dr. Vanessa Snyder is a professor and licensed clinician. She founded Resilience Source, LLC, a mental health collective in Roswell that exists to counsel, consult, and train in the areas of acute and complex trauma, sexual issues, marriage and families in crisis, addiction, trauma-informed care, compassion fatigue, and organizational trauma. She has created the Compassionate Recovery model that equips churches around the world to respond during critical incidents and disasters.
Vanessa is married to Mark Snyder, an exterior construction specialist and finish carpenter in Roswell. They have four adult children who have all graduated from Roswell High School and five grandkids that keep their lives full of energy and joy.
Rotary’s mission of “service above self” is what drew Vanessa to become a member of Rotary as this is her goal in work and in life.
The Beginning
Highlights of the Roswell Rotary Club in the 1950s
The Foundation of Roswell Rotary (1951)
- Location: Roswell, a charming small town accessible via Roswell Road (U.S. Hwy. 19), was a hub of rural charm and history, with antebellum homes still standing after the Civil War.
- Population: In 1950, Roswell's population was just 2,123, with neighboring Alpharetta at 917 and Mountain Park at 15.
The Birth of the Rotary Club
- Charter Night: The Roswell Rotary Club was chartered on April 18, 1951, at Milton High School.
- Toastmaster: Bill Ellis from the Atlanta Rotary Club led the event.
Gifts Received:
- A Rotary gong from President Malon
- A banner from Decatur Rotary
- A gavel crafted from a tree owned by Franklin D. Roosevelt from Warm Springs Rotary.
Key Figures
First Officers:
- George Ray: President
- Charles Foster: Vice President
- Elwyn Gaissert: Secretary
- Guy Webb: Treasurer
Community Impact
- Local Economy: The area was home to several industries, including:
- Southern Mills, Inc.: A textile manufacturer employing 160.
- The Roswell Company: Made men’s trousers, employing 235.
- Banking: The only local bank, Roswell Bank, played a crucial role in community confidence and was established in 1901.
Life in the 1950s
- Cost of Living:
- Minimum wage: $0.75/hour
- New Ford: $1,480
- Gasoline: $0.27/gallon
- Average annual income: $3,709
- Education: Roswell High School graduated just 22 students in 1951 and shared its location with Roswell Elementary on Mimosa Boulevard.
Meetings and Fellowship
- Meeting Locations:
- Initially convened at Moore's Tea Room on Canton Street.
- Later moved to the Lebanon Community Club, where local women provided homemade meals, making meetings a delightful experience.
Memorable Moments
- Fellowship: The importance of community and fellowship was emphasized in meetings, with discussions of various professions fostering connections among members.
- Rotary’s Growth: The club's rapid growth led to the establishment of new clubs, including the Alpharetta Rotary Club in 1983.
Legacy and Recognition
- Charter Members: All members who joined in 1951 are considered charter members, setting a strong foundation for future generations.
- Community Contributions: The Roswell Rotary Club actively participated in local fundraising events, including the Aubrey Greenway Charity Golf Tournament, which raised significant funds for community needs.
Conclusion
The 1950s were a formative decade for the Roswell Rotary Club, characterized by community engagement, growth, and a commitment to service. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, let’s honor the legacy of those who laid the groundwork for what we are today!
