Coastal Georgia Center Helps The Rotary Club of Savannah Continue Unique Tradition

June 29, 2010

On Monday June 28, 2010, the Coastal Georgia Center helped the Rotary Club of Savannah carry on a tradition that was in jeopardy of not happening. Through the use of video conferencing technology and the work ofGeorgia Southern University, Stage Front Presentation Systems and the U.S. Army, the tradition continued as the Center assisted with a live video conference from Savannah to Iraq.

Each year, the Club transitions to a new group of officers and the Immediate Past President is responsible for presiding over the meeting. The only issue was that the club’s Immediate Past President, Lieutenant Colonel David Rosenblum, is currently stationed in Iraq with the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division. Enter the Coastal Georgia Center.

When there is a schedule conflict with the Club’s normal meeting location, the group often meets at the Coastal Georgia Center. However, this particular meeting presented a unique challenge in that in addition to the normal business meeting, there was also the unique request to provide a live video feed so that Lt. Colonel Rosenblum could chair the meeting live from Iraq.

“The Coastal Georgia Center has built its reputation on not only being a first class venue for group meetings and conferences, but also for going above and beyond the call of duty,” said Henry Whitfield, Georgia Southern University Associate Dean and director of the Coastal Georgia Center and member of the Rotary Club of Savannah. “When first approached with this challenge, we already knew that we could offer live video conference capability and knew that this would be a unique opportunity to showcase the Center. We were very proud to be a part of a ‘first’ for the Rotary Club of Savannah and we were glad that we were able to have Lt. Colonel Rosenblum join us live from Iraq.”

“We are very thankful to the Coastal Georgia Center for not only hosting our meeting, but for going above and beyond to ensure that we continued one our Club’s great traditions,” said Louisa Abbot, president of the Rotary Club of Savannah. “To have Lt. Colonel Rosenblum participate in this meeting while serving in Iraq was an experience none of us will forget.”

To make the unique event possible, The Coastal Georgia Center teamed with Rotary Club member and president of Stage Front Presentation Systems, Steve Stephens; Coastal Georgia Center technology coordinator, Dorinda Williams; Georgia Southern University’s Information Technology Services staff; and the U.S. Army. ”

The Coastal Georgia Center, located in historic Savannah, Ga., offers a variety of versatile meeting spaces perfect for nearly every type of event ranging from strategic planning meetings to large conferences. Featuring an auditorium with stadium seating for 370 attendees, the Center also offers a multi-purpose meeting room, 11 meeting and break-out rooms, three computer labs, conference rooms, office space and video conferencing and distance learning capability. For more information, visit: http://cgc.georgiasouthern.edu.