An exemplary Rotarian and Dunwoody resident who lives the motto “Service above Self,” Kathy Brandt’s leadership has resulted in her selection as the Bill Mulkey “Greater Giving Award for 2016-2017.” She has served with passion following the Ideals of Rotary, compassion for those in need, and with a focus on results. Her leadership roles have spanned the Rotary Club of Dunwoody, the DeKalb Rotary Council, the Georgia Rotary Student Program, District 6900 of Rotary International, and the Rotary Foundation. Initiatives she led have had remarkable results including the fostering of world peace and understanding through Group Study Exchange , Ambassadorial Scholarship candidates, and the Rotary Foundation Grant for a University Teacher. As president in 2008-2009, her membership development grew the club by 25 new members, a club record.

Brandt’s fundraising efforts have resulted in phenomenal returns via the annual Governor’s Ball and silent auction, and RunDunwoody, an annual race initiated and continued under her leadership since 2010.

At the club level, she led a stringent long-range planning process to reaffirm the club’s vision, values, and mission. She has advocated and volunteered for Special Olympics of Georgia, AIDS Awareness presentations, the Dunwoody Nature Center’s improvements, the USO, gardening in the traffic triangle in the heart of Dunwoody, assistance at the Dunwoody Arts Festival, and Junior Achievement of Georgia, through which she has taught success skills for the workplace to hundreds of middle and high school students.

The goal of “doing more for more” has been accomplished because of her leadership, which makes her aa walking billboard for the Ideals of Rotary. Her major strengths are her abilities to foster goal clarity, to engage and recognize others, and to energize members to “get it done” while having fun. She is the first recipient since the award was created in 2015-2016 to honor Bill Mulkey, the member known throughout the Rotary world as “Mr. Rotary.” A beautiful pin was designed for those so honored and it will be presented at the club’s Holiday Luncheon at the Dunwoody Country Club each year.

Note: The above article may also be found in the latest edition of the Dunwoody Crier.