Both clubs were recognized during the Georgia United District Rotary Conference, held from April 24-27, 2025, at Jekyll Island. This year's event marked a historic milestone, bringing together Rotary Districts 6900, 6910, and 6920 for the first-ever joint statewide conference.

The prestigious Gold Club status and Club of the Year honors are a testament to the outstanding commitment to service and community leadership demonstrated by both Rotary Clubs.

The Valdosta Rotary Club demonstrates its commitment to service through projects that promote literacy, support law enforcement, and assist local children and families.

To encourage early literacy, the Valdosta Rotary Club sponsors the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and, this year, hosted former Governor Nathan Deal to discuss his book Veto, The Governor's Cat. The Club also gifted a copy of the book to every third-grader at J.L. Lomax Elementary. Additionally, they donated over 200 Scholastic books to the City of Valdosta WOW (Wildcats on Wheels) bookmobile. Each year, the Club honors local law enforcement through the Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner (LEAD), recognizing Officers of the Year from the Valdosta Police Department, Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, and Georgia State Patrol.

"This year's recognition means so much because it reflects the passion and hard work of every member of our club," said Mark Manchester, president of the Valdosta Rotary Club. "I've seen firsthand how our members step up—whether it's volunteering with events, literacy projects, or after Hurricane Helene when we used a $2,500 district grant to get food and hygiene supplies to LAMP when it was needed most. I'm incredibly proud to serve alongside such a dedicated group of people and sincerely consider them my Rotary family."

CeCe Koon, president of the North Valdosta Rotary Club, said she is proud of the Club's incredible year. "Being named Small Club of the Year is a true honor and a reflection of the hard work, passion, and service of every one of our members. We were especially honored to be recognized alongside our sister club, which earned the title of Large Club of the Year. It's a powerful reminder of what's possible when Rotarians come together with a shared commitment to making a difference."  

As the Valdosta North Rotary Club celebrates its 50th anniversary, Koon said this is the second consecutive year the Club has received the coveted Small Club of the Year recognition. "This recognition highlights a year of dedicated service and impactful outreach, including hosting a large-scale Teacher Appreciation Dinner, organizing essential supply drives for Sandy's House, collecting duffel bags for local children in foster care, and providing memorial boxes for families of children in hospice care. For five decades, our Club has upheld the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self.’ We remain committed to honoring that legacy through compassionate service and meaningful contributions to our community."

On the global front, both Rotary clubs actively address global challenges through contributions to the Rotary International Foundation. These efforts support initiatives in peacebuilding, education, disease prevention, environmental sustainability, and the global fight to eradicate polio.

For more information on the Rotary Club of Valdosta, visit www.valdostarotary.org or email [email protected]. For the Valdosta North Club, email Cece Koon at [email protected] or visit the Club’s Facebook page.