Georgia Rotary Student Program named officers and Chair J. Michael Sweigart honored former GRSP Foundation President Joe Jones with a resolution proclaiming him Trustee Emeritus at the 2023 Summer Trustee Business Meeting in Macon Saturday.
Jones joined Rotary International in 1981 as a member of the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs, where he served as club president in 1986-1987 and has achieved perfect attendance at weekly club meetings for 25-years. He was named a GRSP Endowment Trustee in 1991 and served as the Endowment Chair from 2001 to 2021. Jones served as the first president of the GRSP Foundation Inc., from 2021 to 2023.
In his 32 years serving GRSP, Jones has contributed to the success of countless international college students by promoting positive relationships among students, host families, sponsoring clubs and the program. He and his wife Ellen have served as a host family to several students.
Jones said, “I will never forget the camaraderie and the friendships I’ve made within this organization.”
Sweigart thanked Jones for his leadership and his commitment to the program. To view Jones’ full resolution, visit www.grsp.org/history. In the meeting, Jones was also recognized and named a Ronnie Waller Fellow for his $10,000 in cumulative contributions to the GRSP Foundation. Chair Emeritus Ronnie Waller of the Rotary Club of Gainesville was on hand to pin and congratulate Jones.
Sweigart also announced the promotion of GRSP Program Director Katheryne Fields to Executive Director. Fields is a member of the Rotary Club of Griffin Daybreak, where she serves as club president this year.
At the end of the meeting, GRSP Chair Emeritus Jim Drake, on behalf GRSP Chair Emeritus Bert Guy and the Nominating Committee, presented their list of nominations for GRSP officers for 2023-2024. Trustees elected to reappoint Sweigart, a member of the Rotary Club of Duluth, as chair and Ian Bond of the Rotary Club of Columbus as vice chair for another year. Al Hombroek of the Rotary Club of Lawrenceville was named treasurer. Steve Harrold of the Rotary Club of Athens was reappointed to serve as assistant treasurer. Jackie Cuthbert of the Rotary Club of Dunwoody was named secretary while and Pam Lightsey of the Rotary Club of Augusta was named assistant secretary.
The GRSP Foundation Board of Directors met to welcome new members and elect officers as well. The Foundation named Hamsa Thota of the Rotary Club of St. Simons Island, Martha Zoller of the Rotary Club of Gainesville and Teri White of the Rotary Club of Thomasville as outside directors to the board. GRSP announced inside directors to the board stating Jim Drake of the Rotary Club of Savannah South would serve another term and naming Terry Adkins of the Rotary Club of Brunswick, Lorri Christopher of the Rotary Club of Dunwoody plus Heather Kellen of the Rotary Club of Perry to the board. The current Foundation Board of Directors elected officers for a one-year term with Drake named president, Adkins named vice president, and Christopher named secretary. Thota of the Rotary Club was reappointed as treasurer.
GRSP is celebrating 77 years of bringing nations together with one-year college scholarships for international students sponsored by Georgia Rotarians. For more information, visit www.grsp.org.
GRSP Chair J. Michael Sweigart, left, welcomed Chair Emeritus members Dennis Still, Ronnie Waller and Jim Drake to the Summer Trustee Business Meeting in Macon.