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Joining Rotary’s Resolve
Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: 2021/06 – June
Retired Dr. Michael Crowe is anything but retired, thanks to a full-slate of activities that benefit the community.
Michael Crowe
Michael Crowe, a retired obstetrician-gynecologist from Atlanta, joined Highlands-MountainTop Rotary two years ago and, according to member Robin Austin, “has jumped right in.”
A part-year Highlands’ resident for almost 12 years, Dr. Crowe became acquainted with Rotary through Rotarian friends who invited him to a meeting.
He said, “I realized right away that I appreciated all that Rotary does for the community. One of the particular things I really love doing is taking shoes to Highlands Elementary School each year around the holidays and giving them to children who really don’t have adequate shoes. It’s rewarding, but gut-wrenching as well. All brand-new shoes are purchased or donated by members, businesses, and individual donors.”
As chairman of the Family of Rotary committee, Dr. Crowe also assists in “looking after the wellbeing of members that have any sort of mental, social, or physical challenges. The committee’s intention is to let them know we are there for them and can assist in any way necessary. Of course, we try not to be intrusive. But if a member is going through rough times due to tragedy or sickness … they are in our thoughts and prayers and we try to be creative in figuring out ways to help.”
But the current project occupying much of Dr. Crowe’s expertise and time involves the vaccination effort. He takes calls, works triage, inputs data, logs vaccinations, and more.
He explained that the effort has been spearheaded by Robin Austin, Cath Hudson, and Michael Burel, in conjunction with Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Hospital Foundation, and especially Tom Neal, CEO/CNO of the hospital. “As of May, this effort has involved giving more than 10,000 shots. We were early on known as the gold standard in the state as far as getting things done. And the vast majority of our members (around 43) as well as Rotary members from throughout the Plateau clubs, and other volunteers (totaling over 250), have volunteered for this effort. It just blossomed in the community. Volunteers have stepped up to staff clinics.”
