Inside the Alpharetta Rotary Club: Past & Present Presidents on Service, Legacy & What’s Next

In this kickoff episode of the Alpharetta Rotary Podcast, current club president Paul Slavic sits down with past president and “de facto club historian” John Hipes to answer a simple question:

What is the Alpharetta Rotary Club… really?

From woodcut fundraisers and Eggs Benedict at Country Club of the South, to international trips, Memorial Day ceremonies, and serving firefighters, recovering addicts, and local families — this conversation sets the tone for who we are, what we value, and where we’re headed next.

You’ll hear:

How both Paul and John were first invited into Rotary (and why they stayed)

The story behind the club motto: “Have fun, do good, make a difference”

What makes Alpharetta Rotary different from most clubs (younger, more casual, but serious about service)

Powerful “Rotary moments” from trips to Panama and Colombia

The history of major projects and fundraisers in Alpharetta

Why intentional, service-minded members matter more than raw growth

How Rotary develops community leaders across generations


If you’ve ever wondered whether Rotary is for you, this episode is your inside look.


Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome: Who is Alpharetta Rotary & why this podcast series
01:10 – Meet Paul & John: Current president and “club historian”
03:00 – Age, seasons, and how the club’s demographics have shifted
04:30 – Paul’s first visit: Feeling young, finding community leaders & mentors
07:10 – John’s Rotary origin story: BNI, an invitation, and long path to induction
11:20 – Why John really joined: Childhood memories of civic clubs & planted seeds
13:40 – What is Alpharetta Rotary today? “Have fun, do good, make a difference”
17:10 – What makes this club unique: Younger, more casual, but serious about service
20:00 – Service first, business second: The Great Recession and showing up for each other
24:00 – Paul’s Rotary moment: Colombia, orphanages, and seeing real impact
27:30 – John’s Rotary moment: Panama, kids in the jungle & becoming a true Rotarian
31:40 – Rotary International 101: 1.4M members, the Foundation, and global grants
35:10 – Bringing it back home: Memorial Day ceremony & impacting an affluent city
38:00 – Ongoing local projects: Fresh Market bread run, Vision Warriors, and more
42:00 – Long-standing service: Adopt-a-Mile, Drake House, Habitat, and small-ball projects
46:00 – Fundraising history: Woodcut, golf tournaments, Funfest wins & total rainouts
50:00 – The rise of Mayor’s Corporate Challenge & Off-Road Polar Bear Plunge
54:00 – From $45K budgets to $500K+ impact: How fundraising evolved
56:30 – Annual turnover & leadership: New boards, new flavors, same mission
59:00 – “Rotary Serves”: Feeding hometown heroes & Paul’s passion for cooking
1:02:30 – What a Friday morning meeting actually looks like (and why it works at 7:15 AM)
1:06:00 – How John invites people without overselling Rotary
1:09:00 – The future of the club: Intentional growth vs growth for growth’s sake
1:12:00 – Ideal club size, quality members, and reflecting the city of Alpharetta
1:15:00 – Developing leaders: Younger presidents, succession, and exporting leadership
1:19:00 – The Alpharetta Rotary Foundation & $40K+ in local grants
1:22:00 – Final thoughts: Why this club has been life-changing for Paul

👉 Want to visit a meeting?
We meet Friday mornings, 7:15–8:30 AM, at the American Legion in Alpharetta.

🔗 Learn more / get connected:

Alpharetta Rotary Club website: https://alpharettarotary.com/