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Tuesday afternoon, the Rotary Club held its weekly luncheon meeting at the Kirbo Center. Tommie Howell, Rotary President, discussed Rotary information. He stated that the Rotary Leadership Institute is on February 1 in Thomasville, and anyone interested in going should tell Howell. Also, the Rotary Club sponsors the Bainbridge Decatur County Man of the Year, which will be presented at the Chamber Banquet on January 30. In addition, the Blues and Jazz Festival is on February 1.

January is vocational service month, in which the Rotary Club recognizes programs and initiatives. Howell introduced Mel Siebels, a Special Education Teacher at BHS. He stated, “Sibels is a Bainbridge resident with five fur babies. Her younger brother was diagnosed with Autism as a toddler, and that’s what influenced her to go into special education,” He continued. “It taught her very early that a disability does not define a person or their ability to be a productive citizen,” Howell explained her educational background and the work she’s done for special needs students.

Mel Sibel took to the podium to discuss the Bearcat Brew program and the students who made the program successful. Bearcat Brew is a program that serves and delivers hand-made coffee to staff and teachers at BHS. Each student plays a part in ensuring customer orders are accurate. Siebel said, “The students use a carefully designed checklist to guide them through the process to ensure they complete every task in the right order. They must check off each step, from getting the cups and assembling everything to making the coffee and delivering it to the correct classroom and the teacher.” Siebel stated the system helps develop organizational skills, problem-solving abilities, and confidence to take on tasks independently. It also allows them to practice essential life skills such as teamwork, communication, responsibilities, and time management. Siebel exemplified that “these students remind us all that service does not need to be grand to be meaningful. It can be a cup of coffee, a smile, or just a small gesture of kindness when the coffee is made to order and hand-delivered,” She continued. “Students are showing us that service is not about what we get but what we give. Our Bearcat Brew program also demonstrated the power of inclusion.”

Afterward, Siebel asked the audience any questions about the program. One member asked, “How many students does she have?” Her response was, “13 students.” Another member asked, “Besides Friday, does the program have any other activities?” Siebel answered, “Besides Bearcat Brew, students sell ice cream during lunch, which gives them time to interact with the student population.” Another member asked, “Are they preparing to transition into the community for jobs?” Siebel promptly responded with, “Yes, they have. They currently do that type of activity with Eastern Seals. Eastern Seals comes twice a week to help prepare them for outside activities with local businesses and restaurants that can hone in on the life skills we work on in class.” One member asked about donation funds. Siebel stated, “Donations are generously accepted but not required for coffee. Funds go to field trips that improve their quality of life and skills.”

After the Q&A, Siebel introduced the Bearcat Brew members: Cayden Edmond, De’Mya Scott, Savannah Brown, and Zack Jenkins.

Afterward, Howell went to the podium to address the members about the donation bucket that was placed at their tables. The bucket was for members interested in donating to the Bearcat Brew program. Then, Howell led the members into the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary Cree before dismissing the meeting.