“Local Rotarians support Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) lock-in weekend”

 

 

The Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) was started by Rotarian Will Wyatt from Thomasville, GA in 1946 to promote world peace after WW II. Georgia is the only state that has a program like this in the nation.

 

On Friday, November 13^th, local Rotarians welcomed 39 international students hosted by the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs.  These students come from Europe, South & Central America as well as Sri Lanka and Australia.  After a chili dinner at the Ed Isakson YMCA in Alpharetta, the students were paired off with Rotarians from Sandy Springs, Milton and Alpharetta for the evening. 

 

On Saturday, the students were met at the Y by a group of Alpharetta Rotarians.  Their morning was filled with a visit to either the World of Coke or CNN.  That afternoon, the group toured the Georgia Aquarium.  Finally, the day was capped off by a cookout at the YMCA and also use of the facilities until midnight!  The students and hosts had a great time on the climbing wall, in the pool and at the gym.  They spent the night at the Y and were joined by Rotarians from the Alpharetta and Milton clubs. 

 

John Norton, one of the Alpharetta Rotarians with the group said, “I have been in Rotary for over 20 years. I was told as soon as I joined that if you stay in Rotary long enough that you will find a passion for something.  This is what I found.  I love working with the students and have personally hosted two students in my home over the years while they studied at North Georgia College.  I also want to thank all of the Alpharetta Rotarians that helped with this weekend.”

 

Kirk Driskell, President of Alpharetta Rotary said, “This is one of our most valuable programs offered by our club and I am excited that our Alpharetta Rotarians and especially our Chairman of the GRSP Program, John Norton, love interacting and being with the GRSP students for a weekend.”