The Rotary Club of Atlanta West End welcomed District Governor Steve Ivory as its featured speaker on Friday, October 3, 2025. He was accompanied by District Governor-elect Cynthia Edwards. The visit brought energy, inspiration, and a renewed call to service as members reflected on Rotary’s core values and the power of community partnership. The meeting also included a celebration of milestones within the club, including the 90th birthday of longtime member and two-time past AWER president Frances Ellison-Dansby.

 Governor Ivory, a member of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City since 2001, is known throughout District 6900 for his steady, hands-on leadership. A retired U.S. Marine Corps Major and former Director of Quality at Eaton Corporation, he combines the precision of military discipline with the compassion and strategic insight of a lifelong servant leader. During his tenure as club president in the 2020–2021 Rotary year, he led Peachtree City through the challenges of the pandemic, achieving a 254% increase in Foundation giving while fostering creative new ways for members to serve.

 District Governor Ivory’s presentation, titled “Imagine What’s Next,” invited members to think about the future of Rotary as both an organization and a personal commitment. He began by grounding his remarks in Rotary’s seven areas of focus—peacebuilding, disease prevention, clean water, maternal and child health, education, economic development, and environmental stewardship—reminding attendees that “everything Rotary does is connected by one common thread: service.”

 He highlighted the impact of the Rotary Foundation, which has invested more than $4 billion globally over the past century. “One of the most powerful things about Rotary,” he said, “is that we are almost entirely volunteer-run. That means nearly every dollar we raise goes directly to the work itself.” Ivory described the Foundation as the “engine” that fuels Rotary’s global impact, from scholarships to health initiatives and local community projects.

 He emphasized Rotary’s enduring commitment to polio eradication, noting that only a handful of cases remain in the world. Through Rotary’s partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, each dollar donated to Polio Plus is matched 2-to-1—turning every $1 into $3, enough to vaccinate five children. Ivory shared moving accounts of Rotarians delivering vaccines in conflict zones, including one who negotiated with Taliban leaders to continue vaccination campaigns in mosques. “We are this close,” he said, “to wiping polio off the planet forever.”

 Transitioning from Rotary’s global reach to the club’s local strength, Ivory spoke candidly about membership. District 6900, he shared, is one of the largest districts in Zone 34, encompassing roughly 3,800 Rotarians across 68 clubs. While growth is encouraging, sustaining that growth is an ongoing challenge. He congratulated the Atlanta West End Rotary Club for its Club of Excellence distinction but also pointed out the need to expand its base from 23 members to its goal of 35, taking into account an attrition rate currently at about 30 percent—double the district average.

 “Membership is a team sport,” Ivory said. “It’s not just the job of the Membership Chair. Every Rotarian should be a recruiter, a mentor, and an ambassador for Rotary.” He urged members to focus on retention by engaging newcomers early and aligning them with their passions. Members who stay active for three years, he noted, are statistically likely to remain lifelong Rotarians.

 He encouraged clubs to bring prospects first to service projects rather than traditional meetings, explaining that “Rotary sells itself best when people see the work.” He also encouraged flexible engagement—through hybrid meetings, hands-on volunteerism, and satellite clubs—to make Rotary more accessible for today’s busy professionals.

 Ivory spoke about Rotary’s commitment to peacebuilding, encouraging every club to consider installing a Peace Pole, a symbolic marker of unity bearing the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” He congratulated Atlanta West End for already beginning that process by using District Grant funds to install Peace Poles in Atlanta this Rotary Year.

 Finally, he announced that the 2026 District Conference will be held at Lake Lanier Islands, a change from the traditional Jekyll Island venue. The new setting will offer expanded networking and recreation opportunities, including golf, spa services, and lakeside events.

 During his visit, Governor Ivory recognized several outstanding members. He honored Frances Ellison-Dansby for her pioneering Rotary leadership as the first African American woman to serve as a club president in District 6900 and congratulated Don Schewe on his 44 years of service to Rotary.

 Governor Ivory closed with a challenge and an encouragement: “Rotary is about doing good in the world—but it’s also about doing good in your own backyard. When we live that out with integrity, we attract people who want to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

---

KeyWay Program Reporter, Jared Evans & Neil Shorthouse