Having been a Rotarian for almost 34 years, Beverly Reed was sworn in as the new president of the Rotary Club of Livingston June 26. She chartered the first Rotary Club in Bastrop County in 1990, the same year that women were allowed into Rotary membership, and it is believed that she was the first woman to charter or start a Rotary Club in Texas. She served as club president in 1990, as well as assistant governor to Mike Pinson in District 5870.
“It is with immense gratitude and a lot of humility that I stand before you as the incoming president of our Rotary Club. I want to start by thanking you for entrusting me with this incredible responsibility. Your faith in my leadership inspires me, and it is a privilege and honor to serve this club and its remarkable members.
“The first three people I met when I first came to Livingston are here in the room. Pam DeBlasio shared what a great community that Livingston is and very professionally helped us purchase our home and begin our retirement. She and her husband Steve were so welcoming and have become such great friends. As were Jay and Elena Walrath who were our new next door neighbors. They helped us learn about the community and were there for anything we needed.
“Before I speak about the upcoming year, I want to take a minute to express my gratitude to Mark Waters as outgoing president. Your dedication, vision and hard work have left an indelible mark on our club. Your leadership has guided us through a year of significant accomplishments and initiatives that have strengthened our community connections and exemplified the Rotary motto ‘Service above self.’
“I also want to acknowledge the contributions of every past president, board member and Rotarian who has helped shape the legacy of this club. Every one of you has played a vital role in building the foundation on which we will now continue to grow.
“Rotary is more than just a club. It is a global network of people united by a shared passion for service, ethics and fellowship. Together, we have transformed lives – eradicating polio, providing clean water, supporting education, or mentoring young leaders. Rotary gives us the opportunity to make change and to make tangible, lasting impacts on the lives of others, both locally and globally.
“As I step into this role of president, for the second time, I am reminded of the incredible power of Rotary’s ideals. Each of us, with our unique talents, are here in the spirit of Rotary. We will continue to make a difference.
“I am filled with optimism and excitement for what we can achieve together. My vision for this team is about collaboration and innovation. I have such a great team of officers – Mindy Ellis, Will Watson, Joe Roth, Mark Waters, Rick Oliver and Daniel Barton. I also have a great group of chairpersons this year and thank you for stepping into the roles you have moving forward – Judy Cochran, foundation; Mindy Ellis, social media; Kirsty Halliday, membership; Will Watson, club administration; and Tatum White, service projects and fundraising oversight. I’m totally excited.
“Our local community is at the heart of everything we do. This year, I aim to expand our service projects and social presence and to increase our membership to address critical needs in our community and beyond. By working with the resources in our wonderful membership, we can make an even greater impact.
“Our club will continue to evolve. I’m happy to report that our membership has increased over last year. Thanks Kirsty and everyone who sponsored a new Rotarian. I look forward to exploring new ways to engage our members and increase our membership and adapt to changes that come our way.
“To our newer Rotarians, I encourage you to dive in and get involved. Your fresh perspectives and energy are vital to our growth. To our seasoned Rotarians, your wisdom and experience are invaluable. Let’s learn from one another as we work toward our goals for this upcoming year.
“I look forward to working alongside each of you to make this a year of extraordinary impact. We’ve set some lofty goals. Thank you and let’s have some fun.”
