The Friendly Breakfast Club

This Week's Speaker
Emily Mendyka, Owner, Vino Venue in Dunwoody

Join us this Friday at Maggiano's to welcome Emily Mendyka, wine enthusiast and owner of Vino Venue in Dunwoody.

Emily Mendyka’s industry experience started at 15, when her mom encouraged her to work in restaurants for the valuable skills and patience developed in the hospitality industry. After managing several concepts including Public House in Manhattan, NYC, and Café at Grace Hotel, Sydney, Australia, she wound up back in her home state of Connecticut and started with Barcelona Wine Bar. As GM of the Fairfield location, she honed her operational and management skills, and gained deep appreciation for genuine hospitality. Discovering this passion for wine led her to pursue certifications that now include WSET Diploma in Wines, WSET Certified Educator, and WSET Level 3 Sake & Spirits.

After eight years managing restaurants, including two years at Mellow Mushroom corporate as an Operations Business coach, she joined Republic National Distributing Company as a fine wine sales rep. This led to eight years in wholesale sales and included five positions including sales, training, and most recently, managing the company’s national airline business.

Originally from Connecticut and a graduate of the University of Connecticut, Emily now calls Southwest Atlanta home, and enjoys beltline strolls, time with friends and family, and a chilled bottle of Chablis. 

Whiskey Fundraiser Update
Our Search for Whiskey Continues

September is about acquisition… We are in bottle collection mode! Please consider donating a bottle of whiskey for our event on November 19. Our targeted list is included with the article and you can click the link to see it full size. Will we take other selections? Of course!! If you have questions about what to get, quality, or anything else, please ask Neal MacDonald. And read the rest of the story so you can plan to help this fall. [read more]

Continuing Our Commitment to End Alzheimer's

Our golf tournament fundraiser was the top Dementia Rotary Action Group fundraising event it the country for Do What You Love To End ALZ! The Dementia Rotary Action Group is a National Rotary Team for Walk To End Alzheimer's and Do What You Love To End ALZ. 

During the August meeting of our Board of Directors, the board officially voted to designate the Alzheimer’s Association (along with its related fundraising campaigns) as the primary beneficiary of our annual charity golf tournament for an additional four to five-year horizon!

Over the past five years, our club’s dedicated members, sponsors, and supporters have raised and donated over $100,000 to the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. These funds were raised through our participation in its The Longest Day and Do What You Love to End ALZ initiatives, directly supporting critical research and vital local family care programs.

The Board is thrilled to renew our long-term commitment to ending Alzheimer's disease. Proceeds from our upcoming annual golf tournaments over the next several years will directly drive these donations, giving our premier signature fundraiser a lasting, meaningful purpose.

Keep an eye out for upcoming press releases and social media posts highlighting our $100,000 impact, and see how the community can jump in to play, sponsor, or join our club to make a difference!

Service Opportunity
Dunwoody High Interact Club Gearing Up to Make a Difference

The Interact Rush booth at Dunwoody High School had a great morning during last week's Rush Week. Rick Woods helped us with labels and flyers, and Charlie and Anita's granddaughter Gianna and family labeled and bagged 250 chocolate chip cookies.  Gianna and friends handed out cookies and flyers and obtained pages of names and are now busy following up with these students and answering questions.

Anita Augello plans on attending their first official meeting to understand what their service projects will be and how Rotary can help. Let Anita know if you'd like to join the fun!

One service project that's very likely to happen is collecting small toiletry items to make Ditty bags for women who seeks shelter help. So, if anyone in Rotary travels for business or vacation, please collect and bring to any unused toiletry items that are provided in the hotel rooms ( soap, shampoo, lotion Q-Tip's, tissues, etc.) to the meetings and give them to Charlie. You'll be amazed how much you can accumulate.

Dunwoody Diners
Les Miserables Alert - September 26!

Join the Dunwoody Diners for our next "dinner and a show" event - as we plan to attend a performance of “Les Miserables” at the Byers Theater in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center on September 26, 2026. As always, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING YOUR OWN TICKETS and we suggest purchasing as soon as possible if you'd like to join us, as this is one of the world's most popular musicals. The most efficient way to purchase tickets is to call the box office at 404-477-4365. The box office is open M - F from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The address of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center is 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. 

The Diners will be meeting ahead of the theater at Aldo’s Italian Restaurant (6690 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328) at 5:30 pm. Please get in touch with Sherry Levy if further information is needed at sherrylevy13@hotmail.com. Also, please RSVP to Sherry Levy at sherrylevy13@hotmail.com before September 10, 2026. Thank you very much.