District Governor Charley Gilliland has been visiting Rotary Clubs in Montgomery County and spreading news to Rotarians about Rotary.
Deitra Johnson of the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County provided a great summary of the District Governor’s message. She told me, “The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County had the honor of hosting District Governor (DG) Charley Gilliland at its recent meeting. DG Gilliland shared his experiences in Rotary, highlighting the value of building lasting relationships, fostering membership growth, and engaging youth through Interact Clubs.
He emphasized that Rotary is not just about service projects but also about developing lifelong friendships and creating opportunities to experience new places and cultures through Rotary’s global network. During his visit, DG Gilliland also provided updates on district initiatives and encouraged members to continue supporting programs that inspire the next generation of Rotarians.
Before addressing the full club, DG Gilliland joined the Board of Directors meeting to discuss the club’s goals and upcoming projects.
A native of Colorado, DG Charley Gilliland grew up on a cattle ranch and earned his A.B. degree from Regis College in Denver. He went on to receive both his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas and M University. Professionally, he has served as a Research Economist and Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics. A dedicated Rotarian and member of the Rotary Club of Bryan, DG Gilliland has been deeply involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange and is a proud member of the Paul Harris Society.”
Governor Gilliland is not your typical stoic, stuffy economist. He encourages Rotarians to develop long-lasting friendships and care and respect for your fellow man. He brings a heart-felt message that Rotary is more than a service organization. We are a social group also.
The Rotary Club of Conroe extended this social friendship to the community last Thursday night at The Table on Madeley during its successful Spirits of Texas event. The Texas weather was perfect for this indoor-outdoor event under the large oak trees and canopies of Frank Jackson’s beautiful music facility in historic downtown Conroe.
The old fashioned Country and Western band played live classics of years past while friendship grew and new friendships began. Texas wines and beers flowed through the evening with many astounded at the quality of both Texas beers and wines. Reddy Vineyards, Becker, Federalist, and Flat Creek Wines got great reviews. These Texas spirits paired nicely with the upcoming Halloween season, providing the event’s name Spirits of Texas. Costumes were optional, but clothing was mandatory. Several dogs also appeared at the dog-friendly venue with a special dog-park on the venue grounds. While the wines and beers flowed under the watchful eyes of TABC-licensed Rotarians, the socializing was evident. The fun event raised money to fund local youth projects of the Rotary Club of Conroe.
These youth projects include:
• I Like Me Books provided to First Graders in the Conroe High School Feeder System.
• College and Trade School Scholarships for graduating High School Seniors.
• Youth Leadership Training Camps
• Interact Clubs in High Schools
• Support of Runyan Elementary School Staff and Students including taking exceptionally performing students to a Professional Soccer Game in Houston
For more information on Rotary, please email Ron at rsaikowski@comcast.net.