Summary of the Presentation

Rotary Club of Howard West President Rawle Andrews, Jr. introduced Rtn. Ronnie Mills, a nonprofit development leader with 20 years of experience, who was recently installed as president of his club in College Park, Maryland. Ronnie shared his perspective on the current economic challenges facing Maryland, noting that 15,100 residents have lost federal jobs due to budget cuts, and he emphasized Rotary's role as a "hope dealer" through service projects and partnerships. The Rotary Club of College Park, Maryland, led by Ronnie, undertook a service project by adopting Cherokee Lane Elementary School, providing over 30 backpacks and school supplies to students from economically challenged families. Ronnie, inspired by a Maryland House of Delegates delegate, secured a list of schools in need and coordinated with the school to address their requirements. The club plans to expand their efforts with Operation Warm, aiming to provide over 220 winter coats to children from under-resourced families, and will reinstitute the distribution of dictionaries to third graders at selected schools. These initiatives reflect the club's commitment to service, embodying the spirit of Paul Harris by transforming inconvenience into hope and possibility for children in need.

The meeting focused on two main stories: the life of Stuart Bainham Sr., who rose from poverty to become a successful hotel chain owner and philanthropist, and a story about a Dutch pastor who was saved from Nazi imprisonment by a train track switch. District Governor Mandy endorsed a new pilot program in Prince George’s County Maryland called "Discover Your Impact with Rotary" which will be launched on September 29th at College Park City Hall, inviting the public to learn about the impact of the four Rotary Clubs in Prince George's County and join the Impact Movement.

Ronnie discussed potential collaboration between clubs, mentioning an upcoming coat drive in October and a food event organized by Nomi. HW Rtn. Nitish Thakor inquired about ways the two clubs could work together, and Ronnie expressed enthusiasm for joint initiatives. HW Rtn. Jay Kumar suggested organizing a gathering for laid-off federal workers, similar to a successful event by another club, and Ronnie agreed, proposing to include a Maryland delegate to provide information on assistance programs.

The Club discussed Operation Warm, a winter coat drive that requires over 220 coats this year, with Ronnie confirming they prefer to provide new coats rather than gently used ones. Jay suggested a club competition similar to one organized by Larry Lunsford, where clubs could collect and donate new shoes at a discounted rate through partnerships with retailers like Walmart and Target. The discussion concluded with Rawle asking if Ronnie had worked with NARF during a federal workers event, though the answer was not provided in the transcript.

The Club discussed reaching out to the National Active Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) to understand their ground operations, as Maryland leads the nation in NARFE membership. Ronnie shared details about his club's activities, including their new home at the Primetime Restaurant in College Park and their commitment to service projects, with their current focus on distributing coats and dictionaries. Ronnie also provided fundraising tips, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating impact, having a clear case for support, and being donor-centered.