Rugby ATL and Best Friends Animal Society Team

Up for Kitten Season

By Tana Poncsak

What’s cuter than a bunch of kittens? Perhaps a bunch of kittens with players from the Rugby ATL team.

On April 20th, players on the Rugby ATL team had some fun with kittens from Atlanta’s Best Friends Animal Society during a photoshoot at the Rugby ATL headquarters in Marietta. The photo opportunity is to bring awareness to “Kitten Season” – a time period that typically runs from April to November when female cats tend to have multiple pregnancies leading to an overcrowding of kittens in area animal shelters.

Rugby ATL members were happy to join the kittens for some fun photos with a goal to bring awareness to the need for the adoption and fostering of kittens.

Jordan Brown from Australia, who plays lock position for Rugby ATL, took part in the promotional photoshoot. He said the team members who participated in the event all had a great time.

Travel Tales: Summer Vacation Now!

By Pam Walker

“Where shall we go?” Last-minute vacation? That is the question that many families are asking, knowing that the world is full of people traveling right now. This means long lines at airports, crowded parks and highways, and crowded beaches.

What better way to start planning than with a travel professional? These folks know where to send you that are not as crowded nor as pricy as places you find on the internet. Whether here in the US or worldwide, they can help plan a super vacation with only a little effort on your behalf.

This summer, our National Parks are full and some require timed entries. There is an excellent website, www.nps.gov, in case you want to check some of these out. Again, rely on a travel professional to locate places to stay nearby your favorite park.

A word about those websites that offer homes away from home: what could be worse than booking a rental home on the beach, loading the car with kids, suitcases, toys, and the family pet, and then arriving at the rental location to find someone else in the home? Or worse, the place you rented is a dump! It happens.

If you fly, give yourself plenty of time at the airports before your flights. Nothing could be worse than arriving one hour ahead of time to see those vast lines at the check-in counter and the TSA checkpoint. Get to the airport at least two hours in advance of your flight if not more. Now too, with weather delays daily, be sure and book

“There are several animal lovers on the team, myself included,” Jordan said, adding that as an animal lover, it’s hard not to have a great time when you’re around animals.

Jordan described some of the kittens as energetic and even rowdy, while some were timid and relaxed.

“It’s amazing to see how animals have vastly different personalities, just like people,” he said.

Ultimately, Jordan and his teammates hope the campaign brings awareness to the great work that Best Friends Animal Society does in metro Atlanta.

“Everyone at Rugby ATL is passionate about supporting the community,” he said, “and it’s been an honor to help support this cause. I look forward to supporting them more in the future.” connections with at least one hour or more between your flights. Always check the website of your carrier as well to make sure that you won’t be left behind.

Rugby ATL formally incorporated as a Major League Rugby team in 2019, and is one of thirteen Major League Rugby teams throughout the United States and Canada with sixteen games in a season. Home games are played at the Silverbacks Park.

More information at https://rugbyatl.rugby/our-story/, and https://network.bestfriends.org/who-we-are/our-purpose.

If you are planning an extensive overseas vacation, start early. If you haven’t done so, again your travel professional can help. There are so many websites offering last-minute “deals” these days, but it is better to have a professional help plan your trip rather than take chances on the internet!

So have a wonderful summer vacation. Have fun, and enjoy being with family and friends before school starts again!

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor. More information at pam@ walkeradventures.com

Ryan’s Remarks Continued from page 7

embrace the opportunities that come our way and dare to dream big. Whether pursuing a personal passion, nurturing a talent, or simply finding joy in the little things, let this summer be a season of growth, fulfillment, and positivity.

Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community and allowing us to share the stories that inspire, inform, and bring us closer together. Your support fuels our passion, and we are committed to delivering a magazine that reflects the heart and soul of our local community. I wish each of you a July filled with laughter, sunshine, and endless possibilities. Let’s make this summer our best one yet!

Here is to a great July 2023. And as always, thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

Learning Lessons Continued from page 9

participation? Is there a specific job that my child can do successfully? Can the organization help my child understand how his or her efforts benefit others?

Compassion and generosity are important traits for every person to have. Helping young children learn the joy and fulfillment of lending a helping hand to others will empower them to make a difference in the world, both as children and adults.

Tanisha Turner is Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com or call 770513-0066.

Grayson Cycling Club: The Silver Fox Memorial Ride

By Traci Sanders

More than ninety cyclists showed up on May 13th to enjoy a scenic bike ride that spanned Eastern Gwinnett and Walton County to raise funds and awareness for those in need within the Gwinnett community. The Grayson Cycling Club (GCC) hosted this event in honor of the generous spirit of a very special long-time member, John Hancock – aka The Silver Fox – who recently passed.

John’s fellow GCC friends had this to say about him on the website:

“John was a friend in our community, from a cycling perspective and also a friend to the Southeast Gwinnett Co-Op and many others. John was always willing to assist all who needed it.

“We all have stories where John would drop back and ride with someone on the verge of bonking, while at the same time ‘gently’ counseling another rider on how NOT to do something. One of his signature statements was, ‘Let’s put our big boy pants on and ride.’”

The memorial ride offered three routes that cyclists could enjoy: a 30-mile, a 63-mile, or a 73-mile-course, with slight hills at the beginning and end, but mostly a flat middle. Each rider signed a health waiver to participate. Cyclists checked in at 7 a.m. and began riding at 8 a.m.. Full

Getting to Know: The Snellville Lions Club

By Traci Sanders

The Snellville Lions Club has contributed to the Gwinnett community in many ways since 1952 with the simple motto: WE SERVE.

Lions Club International began in the United States in 1917 upon the influence of a young Chicago insurance agent named Melvin Jones, who believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world. In 1925, the Lions began serving and advocating for the blind and visually impaired by strengthening eye care systems in underserved communities, offering assistance, and enabling them to fight blindness and vision loss.

I recently spoke with Lion Cheryl Johnson with the Snellville Lions. The Lions support Georgia Lion’s Lighthouse Foundation through the White Crane fundraisers, and several Lions volunteer weekly at the Eyeglass Recycle Center at the Georgia Lion’s Lighthouse. Their recycle boxes are located throughout Snellville. Another organization that the Lions support is the Georgia Camp for the Blind, which allows visually impaired people to participate in activities they would normally not be able to enjoy outside of the camp.

The Snellville Lions also contribute to local schools, from awarding scholarships to high school seniors to providing dictionaries to third graders at Britt Elementary. The principal of this school is, in fact, a proud Snellville Lion herself.

Their mission has now expanded to address vision needs, diabetes, hunger, childhood cancer, and the environment. They continue to operate under the premise where there’s a need, there’s always a Lion.

service breaks and SAG (support and gear) vehicles were present to assist riders.

The event raised $3,500 that was split between the Southeast Gwinnett Co-op (which serves the Gwinnett community through food, utilities, and ministry) and the NG3 (which focuses on the development of youth through sports). NG3 Grayson and NG3 Archer provide character talks, discipleship, and community service opportunities to students at Grayson and Archer high schools.

Over 800 pounds of food were received at this event as well. Each rider donated five or more food items to participate and be eligible for numerous prizes such as: a Bontrager tire pump, a Cycliq Fly 12 headlight and camera, a Garmin Varia radar and tail light, a Garmin Edge Explore 2 bike computer, a Supacaz bar tape, a bike tune-up and drivetrain cleaning service gift, various gift baskets and gift cards from multiple merchants, a $100 Visa gift card, and 2 Michelin bicycle tires. All the riders enjoyed a lovely barbeque lunch with lots of delicious sides upon conclusion of the event, compliments of the Grayson Cycling Club.

The club’s website states that this was a ride for honor, impact, and community – and it appears those aspirations were met.

The Grayson Cycling Club’s goals are fun, fitness, and camaraderie. This group typically rides two to three times per week, and welcomes riders of all skill levels, even beginners.

More information at http://www.graysoncyclingclub.com/.

“We’re the world’s largest service organization,” Lion Cheryl shared.

The Snellville Lions Club meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Walton EMC on Lenora Church Road. They always seek more members and volunteers to reach, and service more people and organizations in need within the Snellville community.

Helen Keller beseeched the Lions at the 1925 International Convention saying, “Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?”

It’s clear this organization wasn’t meant to exist simply to help local citizens see more clearly in the literal sense. Perhaps it was also destined to help those in need be able to see a better life and future for themselves through the exhaustive love, support, and resources provided by the Snellville Lions Club.

We all know a lion need not roar to demonstrate its power. Its mere presence can cause anyone to stand up and take notice.

More information at https://www.facebook.com/SnellvilleLionsClub.