Rotary Club Of Oconee County :: District 6910 Chartered April 8, 1980

Club Projects

The Rotary Club of Oconee County has undertaken and completed many and varied community projects over the past 26 years. The Rotary Motto of "Service above Self" guides us to pursue these activities. This page presents some of our noteworthy community work over recent years.

Wording in this crimson color denotes new or updated club activities during the 2006-2007 program year. This page was updated in July 2007.

Relay for Life in Oconee County

Each year the Rotary Club of Oconee County gathers with thousands of others to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. We put together a team of Rotarians who take turns walking non-stop for a 24-hour period to show our support for this cause. For a couple of months each year, we have auctions of interesting items at our weekly meetings with all proceeds going to Relay for Life.
In the spring of 2004, Oconee County established their own RFL and the Rotary Club played an important role in the success of this inaugural venture. Many of the Club's members were on the "Relay For Life in Oconee County" planning board, the Club had a team that was present on the track throughout the night, and we raised $3000 for this venture through our weekly auctions. The "RFL in Oconee County" surpassed its goal of $100,000 by over 100%.
In the second year of RFL in Oconee County, the club raised more than $5000 (received trophy for "Most Money Contributed by a Civic/Government Organization") through contributions and auctions and many members were on planning and implementation committees. The RFL raised over $214,000 this year and was ranked No. 2 in the nation.

In 2006, the third year, the club raised over $7400 and the Relay had another record year raising over $286,000 which was the best in the nation for our population group. Our club again received trophy for "Most Money Contributed by a Civic/Government Organization".

2007 was another banner year with the Club contributing over $9500 and the Relay raised $316,120. Our club was again recognized with a trophy for "Most Money Contributed by a Civic/Government Organization".

County School Projects

The Rotary Club of Oconee County supports school activities in a variety of ways:

Recognizing and honoring outstanding senior students and teachers in the school system each month of the school year with a framed Certificate and U. S. Savings Bond. This activity was expanded in fall of 2004 to include students and teachers from private high schools in the county in addition to the two public high schools.
Support Interact Club at Oconee County High School. Assisting with Secret Santa and Salvation Army Kettle Collection, Blood Drives, Muscular Dystrophy Drives, and other activities. The club continues to support these activities with some funding and member participation. A new Interact Club was formed at North Oconee High School in 2006-2007 schoool year.
The Dictionary Project has beeen going on for 3 years and continues as a viable Literacy project. We will purchase and distribute over 450 dictionaries to students in November 2006.
Presenting the AIDS Awareness Program to students in middle schools in the county. This was a District 6910 initiative and funding is achieved through the weekly 50-50 raffle. This program continued into 2007 with great reception by the schools.
Providing volunteers to meet with middle school (8th grade) students to discuss career opportunities. We developed a Career Map in 2006 whereby each Rotarian provided thorough and detailed information on how to be successful in their chosen career fields.

Extra Special People, Inc. (ESP)

ESP, Inc. is a local organization that provides opportunities for the emotionally, physically and mentally challenged individuals in our community and surrounding counties. Our Annual Chicken BBQ in April/May supports this worthwhile activity. We also assist in providing funds for summer camp for a needy member of ESP. The Volunteer Director, Martha Wylie, was awarded the Jean Harris Award at the June 2003 Annual Awards Banquet. Also, in 2003-2004, two Rotarians served on the ESP Board of Directors and the Club continued to support this worthy program financially. In 2004, Director Martha Wylie died from pancreatic cancer. Her death left a tremendous void but the program will continue. The club contibuted $600 and members continue to serve on the Board of Directors. The Club continues to support ESP with $1000 in 2005-2006 program year. The club continued its support in 2006-2007 with a gift of $2000.

Major Projects and Activities

In the fall of 2006, the Club built a "Bioretention Cell" (commonly known as a Water/Rain Garden next to the new Music Hall at the Oconee County Middle School. Rotarian Mike Lewis was the Project Leader with the help of Frank Henning, Clarke County Extension Agent. 14 Rotarians provided sweat labor and other Rotarians supplied materials (sand, mulch, gavel, etc.) and equipment to install the garden in 5 hours on a Saturday in November 2006.
In honor of Rotary Centennial Year (2005), our Club has developed a project at the new North Oconee High School where we are assisting in the construction of a Cross Country Track (first in the history of the county) with financial contributions (partially funded with a simplified grant from District 6910) and sweat equity. The track was completed during 2004 with sweat-equity of the club members and guidance from a professional landscape engineer in our club and the first meet was held in the spring of 2005. The second phase of the project, a pavillion, was completed in late 2005. The building was a 20' x 40" pole building to use as a gathering place for various events, primarily cross country track and tennis.
In June 2003, the Youth Service Committee inaugurated the "Read-To-Me" literacy program whereby the speaker's gift would consist of a RI Pen and a children's book with a bookplate (with speaker's name and date of appearance) asking the speaker to read the book to a child in his family, neighborhood, etc. This activity was continued in program year 2004-2005.
Raised funds and built a track in the county for young people involved in competitive bicycle racing.
Raised funds ($10,000) for an addition to the Oconee County Library.
Built wheelchair ramps for disabled individuals at their homes. This is an ongoing project with completion of 4-5 ramps each year. In 2002, we also built stairs at our local community ballpark to allow people to move easily from field level to higher parking level. Since 2000, the Club has installed 12 handicap ramps in the county. No new ramps were built in 2004-2005 because of Ken's Kennel project. Our 13th ramp was built on 11/11/06 (see picture below).
Another handicap ramp (14th - see picture below) was built on 4/7/07 in Oconee county (below) for an elderly man who was unable to get off his porch without two or three family members assisting him.

Raised funds and built a Barbeque Shelter ( complete with pits and operational kitchen) at Harris Shoals Park in our community of Watkinsville.
Support Interact Club at Christmas for providing assistance to needy in the county. The club contributed over $1000 to Interact for "Secret Santa" project in 2004 plus manpower to distribute toys, clothing and food. The club continues to support this effort with financial contributions and assistance on distribution.
Provide manpower for Annual Watkinsville Christmas Parade (Marshals, etc.). Continued in 2006.
Financially support Rotary CART (Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust Fund Project) - raised over $1260 in 2003. The club will again support this effort in 2006 and 2007.
Financially supported the procurement of playground equipment for the new Rocky Branch Elementary School (2002).
Built Ken's Kennel - a dog kennel in 2005 for a companion dog of a severely handicapped child in our community. The kennel was built with many member man-hours and with the skills of club members with professional construction skills.
Raised $1600 for District 6910 Tsunami Relief Project - $600 from 50-50 weekly raffle and $1000 from member contributions.
Raised a significant amount in support of Katrina disasters in 2005

Oconee County Career Opportunity Center

In 2002, the Club embraced the activities of the local County Literacy Project that was developed by Athens Technical College and partially supported by Oconee County. The Project assists those individuals who need to understand English as a second language, those who need to prepare for technical school entrance tests, and others in preparing for GED Exams. The Club supports this activity by having members volunteer to tutor in reading and math each week. In 2002, we also contributed $500 to the Project to purchase appropriate books for second language students, which are available at the Oconee County Library. The club participation continued in 2003-2004 with a club member tutoring math throughout the year and the awarding of a $55 grant to a student who otherwise could not afford to take the GED Test. In 2004-2005, the Center was renamed the Adult Learning Center and the club continued to provide a member-tutor and opportunities for scholarship funding for deserving students. From 2005 through 2007, the Club continued to support the Center with volunteer Rotarian tutors and financial assistance.