Washington Rotary Club

04/20/2026

Washington Rotary Club was pleased to welcome Tracie Haughey, CEO/CFO of Wills Memorial Hospital on Thursday, April 16, 2026 as Guest Speaker. She presented an overview of the hospital and the services they provide.

Tracie has lived in Washington, GA for 26 years and raised three children here. She earned her college degree in accounting and finance at Presbyterian College and began her professional career working at Ernest and Young CPA firm. She joined Wills Memorial Hospital in 2010 as Assistant CFO to manage their clinics; then was promoted to CFO in 2014; and CEO in 2016. She has been serving as both CEO and CFO since that time, now over 10 years.

Wills Memorial Hospital was established in 1924 as the first hospital in Wilkes County. In 1978 it was designated a 501 c(3) Not For Profit Entity. In 2000 it received designation as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and in 2012 opened Community Medical Associates (CMA), a wholly owned Rural Health Clinic. (RHC)

The hospital provides services in Emergency, Radiology, Laboratory, Physical, Occupational, Speech and Respiratory Therapy, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Wound Clinic and Infusion Clinic. Community Medical Associates provides Primary Care in Family Practice, Internal Medicine and Pediatric Care. The hospital also operates a Skilled Nursing (Swing Bed) Nursing Facility within the hospital.

The GA Heart Tax Credit is an excellent opportunity to support our local hospital. It is a 100% state tax credit which allows GA income earners to donate to the hospital in lieu of paying state taxes.

Rotarian Michael Horgan will be presenting this Thursday, April 23, 2026 on The Rotary Foundation and one of it’s Missions to eradicate Polio in the World. Rotarian Jennifer Tolleson, will be speaking on April 30 about Artificial Intelligence. Come join us!

04/15/2026

For a limited time, you can stock your kitchen with these famously mild onions while supporting projects that make a difference right here in the City of Washington, GA and beyond.

Why Vidalia onions?
They’re versatile, delicious, and only available for a short season. Perfect for grilling, salads, sandwiches, or caramelizing into something unforgettable.

Why Rotary?
Every bag you purchase helps fund local service initiatives, scholarships, and global humanitarian efforts.

🧅 10 lbs = $15
🧅 25 lbs = $30

Place your order in the comments or contact your local Rotarian. Delivery early May.

04/14/2026

04/11/2026

Washington Rotary Club hosted Jackson Carter, Treasury Services Manager at F&M Bank in Washington, at the April 9th luncheon meeting. Jackson is originally from the Atlanta area and joined F&M Bank recently after working in Dublin, Georgia.

As Treasury Services Manager, Jackson’s department is committed to offering convenient, cutting edge banking technology to simplify business and personal banking customer’s needs. F&M Bank has been independently-owned and operated since 1950, which allows them to provide local, customized cash management solutions, fraud protection, cash flow control and support for business growth.

F&M Bank currently has four branch locations, two servicing Wilkes County, one in Lincoln County and one in Taliaferro County.

On April 16, the club will host Tracie Haughey, CEO/CFO of Wills Memorial Hospital as our guest speaker.

03/23/2026

Washington Rotary Club was pleased to host Lisa Isham, Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School’s Athletic Director as our guest speaker at the March 19, 2026 luncheon. Her parent’s, longtime Washington business leaders, community residents and Rotarians, Buddy and Alice Lindsey, also attended.

Lisa highlighted the many accomplishments of WW Tiger student athletes during the 2025-2026 Sports season. Among them, the Softball team were named the Region Champions and advanced to the Sweet 16 playoffs; in Cross Country, Kate Johnston was the Class AD-2 State Runner-Up; the Football team achieved 3rd place in the Region and participated in the Sweet 16 playoffs; the Flag Football team were Area Champions and hosted the State Playoffs; in Wrestling, Lillian McLemore earned 3rd place at Sectionals and competed in the GHSA State Wrestling Tournament; the Girls Basketball team were State Runner-Up in Class AD-2 and Boys Basketball made a Final Four Appearance.

Middle School Athletes had a very successful year as well. They were League Champions in Football and Girls Basketball and League Runner-Up in Boys Basketball.

Lisa has taught in the School District for 36 years and has been Athletic Director for the last six years. She is a Graduate herself of Washington Wilkes Comprehensive High School and excelled in Softball, Track, Basketball and Golf during her high school career.

Washington-Wilkes Tigers motto: “Building Character. Creating Leaders. Inspiring Champions.

03/14/2026

Rotary Club of Washington, Georgia was pleased to host Daniel Newsome, Plant Manager for Bitzer US, Inc. located in Flowery Branch, GA. Bitzer is a world-wide refrigeration company, founded and headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

Bitzer is a global leader in the manufacturing of commercial Screw, Scroll and Semi-Hermetic Reciprocating Compressors for A/C and refrigeration application. Bitzer, US, Inc. serves the US market from its Headquarters outside of Atlanta and its three US plants. Daniel explained the company’s line up of diverse products and the recent industry trend toward the use of CO2 in refrigeration.

Daniel is the son of Sparky and Mary Newsome and a 2003 Graduate of Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School. He went onto earn a Degree in Industrial Management and Economics at Mercer University.

03/03/2026

We dropped off over 60 pieces of medical equipment from our first medical equipment drive. Thank you Custom Mobility of Athens for allowing us to deposit our donations in your FODAC container. A BIG THANK YOU to our fellow Washingtonians who answered the call with this generous response.

02/22/2026

Washington Rotary Club's Interact Club has begun a program of recycling aluminum cans at Washington-Wilkes High School. The proceeds will be donated to the Animal Shelter and Rescue.
Thank you Rotary Interact students for your good work!

02/22/2026

On February 19, 2026 Washington Rotary Club hosted Wilkes County Sheriff Darrell Powers as our luncheon guest speaker. Sheriff Powers took office back in January of 2025 and has brought over 30 years of experience in public safety and law enforcement to our community. His department oversees a staff of 47 Deputies, including jail personnel, and his office responds to an average of 1,700- 1,800 calls per month.

Sheriff Powers spoke to his recent work on House Bill 997 that is currently being presented before the Georgia House of Representatives. It seeks to amend Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penal institutions and the costs thereof that directly impact our County.

We thank Sheriff Powers and the entire Wilkes County Sheriffs Department for keeping our community safe.

02/21/2026

Hey y’all. We are at F&M bank, main branch collecting Medical Equipment. Don’t let the rain keep you away. We will unload whatever you bring.