Members and staff were up before dawn preparing for the Sunrise Rotary Club of Gainesville‘s 7am meeting. These fine people belong to one of four Gainesville Rotary Clubs in Rotary District 6970 who upgraded the GOC kitchen and dining room to a restaurant quality facility. Our Members wanted to thank Rotary by making and serving them breakfast in the facility they helped create. You see, GOC Members also practice Service Above Self. Together, GOC and Rotary Create Hope in the World. Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville Gainesville Rotary Club Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville

It was 36 degrees and dark when our Members arrived to start our meal. Akeem and Lasheka, along with our volunteer Claudia Cuadros, hand squeezed orange juice for the breakfast. GOC Members Wendie and Susan arrived an hour earlier at 6am to help make this happen. Events like this are important to our Members. Members are proud to take responsibility to make sure things run smoothly. Rotary President Sherry Houston kicked off the meeting at 7:15am with her usual enthusiasm. Brett Buell works for the GOC and is President Elect of the Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville. He educated his fellow Rotarians on how the GOC helps our community. GOC Member Reid shared how he has overcome his illness and how the GOC has helped him. Reid has also served on our Board of Directors and he writes for our monthly newsletter. Rory Causseauex is Feastmaster for 2024. Another great cause, Project Youthbuild, will be helped this year. Dan Rodkin spoke about another great project, the Rotary Youth Exchange. Rotarians are truly here to Create Hope in the World. We had a full house. Maybe we already need a bigger dining room! Good thing there are such wonderful people who call themselves Rotarians who are always here to help.