About

Rotary

Who we are

The Rotary Club of the Classic City of Athens (Classic City Rotary) puts “service above self” to invest time, resources, and energy into the Athens community and beyond. A diverse set of professional, business, and civic-minded individuals, Classic City Rotarians also conceptualized, launched, and support the Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Awards and Workshops in support of the Athens-area creative community. Funds raised from the event support many local initiatives (see below). Our club meets weekly for fellowship and great program presenters, and we’d love to have you join us!

What we do

Throughout the year, Classic City Rotary provides hands-on volunteering with community projects (such as Christmas tree recycling with Keep Athens-Clarke Co. Clean and Beautiful; United Way Day of Caring; events with older adults at the Athens Housing Authority’s Denney Tower; preparing and serving meals with Our Daily Bread) and has a long-standing commitment to JJ Harris Elementary School, in projects ranging from literacy events and essay contests, providing art and music equipment, to installation of trees, tables, soccer goals and outdoor classrooms.

Classic City Rotary has a particular emphasis on supporting the Athens-area creative community, not only through the Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Awards and Workshop, but also through collaborations with Nuci’s Space, the UGA Music Business Program, the Wild Rumpus, the Athens Youth Symphony, and UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music. The club also provides financial support to a wide range of local organizations and agencies. This varies year to year, but includes initiatives and nonprofits such as Books for Keeps; ULEAD; Athens Community Council on Aging; Acceptance Recovery Center; Athens Diaper Bank; and more.

Our club is also known for its strong International Service component. Our members have participated in Rotary programs in Costa Rica, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Norway, Mexico, Turkey, and Indonesia, and have also provided district and state-level leadership for the Georgia Rotary Student Program, Rotary Global Grants, and other initiatives. In 2021, for instance, we supported UGA classical music students to attend and perform at an international event in Italy.

our mission

We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

What is rotary International?

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to:

  • Promote peace

  • Fight disease

  • Protect the environment

  • Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene

  • Save mothers and children

  • Support education

  • Grow local economies