Rotary Club of Vidalia

10/14/2025

Scott Morrison, Missions/Discipleship Pastor with Vidalia First Baptist Church, spoke about Whisper, a program for community youth through Vidalia First Baptist Church. Other speakers were Chad Ritchie, Pastor of Vidalia First Baptist Church, a Senior at Vidalia High School, Rori Johnson, Scott’s daughter-in-law, Haley Morrison, and fellow Rotarian Jake Cleghorn’s son, Eli Cleghorn.

Scott has spent 25 years leading at Vidalia First Baptist Church and supporting young people in Toombs County. When the mental health crisis worsened during and after COVID-19, he had to call 911 for 10 students, as 1013 cases. This experience inspired him to earn a degree in child psychology and work even harder to make a difference for local youth.

His passion for helping others led him to connect with other leaders who were launching the Whisper program in Atlanta, Georgia. Whisper aims to address loneliness among young people, which has grown as empathy and communication skills have declined. The program has quietly operated in our area for three years, working to address rising mental health concerns. Scott started this non-profit effort at Vidalia High School with just 12 students. The group grew to 30, then 60, and now includes 91 students. Whisper has expanded to Vidalia Heritage Academy and plans to reach Toombs County High School and Robert Toombs Academy in the next year or two.

For more information regarding Whisper, please contact Scott Morrison at scott.morrison@fbcvidalia.org

10/10/2025

10/02/2025

This week, we heard from Director Jessica Johnson and Volunteer Coordinator Janet Bryant, both of whom serve four counties in Georgia with The Salvation Army. They shared updates on their mission, local impact, community giving, disaster response, and ways we can get involved. The annual bell ringing for kettle donations and the Angel Tree program are coming up soon. If you'd like to help, please reach out to the Vidalia Salvation Army Service Center today.

For more information: Vidalia Service Center
Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Saturday-Sunday: Closed
Phone: +1 (912) 538-8203
Address: 220 Mose Coleman Dr, VIDALIA, GA
https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/vidalia/

09/12/2025

This week, our speaker was David Moncus, a Mt. Vernon resident, who presented a program on the history of the Georgia State Flag.

Mr. Moncus graduated from Vidalia High School and attended Brewton-Parker Christian University, where he participated in football and baseball. He recently celebrated his 74th birthday on July 4. His passion for history has led him to educate audiences throughout South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia.

David displayed several flag examples, including the nation's first two flags and the well-known Betsy Ross Flag. He also presented seven Georgia state flags from 1836 to the present. The first state flag in Georgia dates back to 1776. He also shared that the state of Georgia was named after King George of Britain.

He noted that in 2003, the public voted on the current Georgia State Flag, which has now represented the state for 21 years. All 159 counties supported the majority decision.

David feels that politicians used to be more honest and likes the fact that landowners don't have the only say in the state of Georgia nowadays. He encouraged everyone in the room to read the book 1776, written by David McCullough.

Thank you to fellow Rotarian Member, Mike Calhoun, for organizing this informative event.

09/11/2025

09/08/2025

On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Jim Gillis and Theron Menkon from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources visited to talk about local issues. They brought along some amphibians and reptiles to help us learn about the different species living nearby. They discussed topics like how they catch and tag alligators, the pros and cons of our deer population, and explained Chronic Wasting Disease, a serious illness that affects deer, elk, and other animals in the deer family. We also learned many other interesting facts about what the Georgia DNR does for our community and state.

For more info: Call +1-800-366-2661 or visit www.georgiawildlife.com

09/06/2025

On Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025, Peggy NeeSmith, Director of the Dream Center, and local center volunteer Mary Alice Wilder (“Maw”) spoke about the 13-year-old nonprofit, a faith-based drug and alcohol residential treatment program for women.

NeeSmith says the center relies on faith and support from the community. With more than 20 years of sobriety, she leads by example. Her upbeat attitude and sense of humor, along with help from people like Maw, keep her inspired to help others.

The center offers transitional housing with a 58% success rate, often called the 'Jesus factor.' Women come from diverse backgrounds, and are from Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and the local area. Five full-time volunteers work at the center. The facility can house up to 18 women, but currently serves 9, allowing each a private room. The home is 117 years old and has been renovated. Notably, April C. Johnson Chambers, a current Rotarian, lived there as a child.

Each day follows a routine that teaches structure and self-sufficiency. Residents take part in civic classes, do chores, and volunteer in the community. Outreach activities include delivering meals to seniors, catering events, hosting summer church camps, volunteering at the Vidalia Onion Festival, and fundraising by selling Boston Butts and t-shirts.

For more info:
Contact Peggy Neesmith at +912-388-4825 or email, dreamcentervidalia@yahoo.com

09/04/2025

On Wednesday Aug 20, 2025, Matthew O’Conner, Lead Forester for the Georgia Forestry Commission, spoke about the challenges and accomplishments achieved by the GFC and other forestry-related agencies since Hurricane Helene.

For more info: email Matthew O’Conner at moconner@gfc.state.ga.us
or call: +912-486-0760
or visit: gatrees.org

08/30/2025

Another successful Rotary Club of Vidalia Boston Butt fundraiser down in the books!
400 plus sold! Thank you to all who cooked, bought and volunteered their time…

08/29/2025

‼️Attention ‼️ Today is the DAY❗️
Boston Butts will be distributed TODAY,
Friday, Aug 29th, between 11am-1pm outside Vidalia First Baptist Church under the Porch!

They must be picked up Today!!
(Unless purchased a pick up later ticket).
Any Butts not claimed today will be donated.

If you are a Rotarian, WE need your Help with distribution. Join us between 1030am-1pm. This can count as meeting make up..

08/19/2025

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, C.J. Worden, the Deputy EMA Director for Toombs County, GA, spoke to us about Hurricane Helene and its impact before, during, and after it struck Toombs County and much of Georgia on September 25, 2024. He was joined by Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper, new City Councilman Ronald Miller, and Toombs County Manager John Jones.

Mr. Worden worked with Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA/HS) for several years before serving as Oconee County’s EMA Director. Following Hurricane Helene, began to serve as Toombs County’s Deputy EMA Director. He began his talk with a light-hearted comment, saying he subscribes to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt philosophy of public speaking, which teaches, 'Be brief, Be sincere, and Be seated.'

C.J. began his response to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene by traveling to Coffee County at the request of GEMA/HS and was subsequently called to Vidalia and Toombs County, where he arrived to find no electricity, no water, and no working city wells.

He walked us through the steps it took to stabilize our community. On the first day, water was the main concern, and many thanked First Baptist Church of Vidalia, Pastor Chad Ritchie, Pastor Scott Morris, the congregation, and volunteers for their help. The church became the hub for water, meals, and supplies. Church members cooked food from their freezers to feed everyone. On the second day, law enforcement and state partners worked together to address traffic and looting. By the third day, fuel was running low, but after a call to GEMA/HS to beg for any help with fuel we could get, supplies arrived just in time, though price gouging became an issue. On the fourth day, the old John Deere building was identified as a great location to distribute food and supplies. By the fifth day, an amazing number of local volunteers stepped up. The military came to help, Superintendent Barry Waller provided resources, and Phyllis Fredrick organized volunteers. C.J., alongside the local leaders in Toombs County, coordinated the delivery of tarps, meals, water, and ice. State officials, school buses, and the United Cajun Navy from New York also provided support. By the tenth day, the community began to see some semblance of a return to normalcy.

Donations came in from many places, including Wal-Mart, local gas stations, and Crider Poultry Inc. Looks Great Debris Removal, working with FEMA, began clearing debris. They worked in the area for ten months and removed two million cubic yards of debris.

Deputy EMA Director for Toombs County, GA, C.J. Worden, mentioned an upcoming Hazard Mitigation Plan Update meeting for the City of Vidalia, Lyons, and Santa Claus, on August 28, September 24, and October 23, 2025, at Vidalia City Hall from 10am-2pm.

City of Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper commended C.J. Worden, saying, “He is a Godsend; he helped us get things done.”

For more information or questions, contact: C.J. Worden, Deputy EMA Director, Toombs County , GA, at cj.worden@erassist.com

08/17/2025

We are heartbroken to announce that one of our fellow Vidalia Rotarians, Nick Overstreet, has passed away. Nick was a wonderful member of our Club who was dedicated to helping others in our community. He will be terribly missed by so many. Please keep his family in your prayers.

View Nicholas Dale Overstreet's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.