Rockwall Rotary installs new officers, welcomes new club president

(ROCKWALL, TX – July 14, 2016) Last week, as he stepped into his position as the new president of Rockwall Rotary, Jeff Shell asked his fellow Rotarians to reflect on an important question: “What’s your Rotary story?”

During last week’s noon meeting of the Rotary, the club welcomed Jeff into his new role and heard all about his own Rotary story, a journey which began with the befriending of a local pediatrician and the birth of his first son.

After moving to Rockwall in February 2006 and learning that his wife was pregnant with their first child, Jeff left his job as a civil litigation attorney in Dallas to join the Rockwall County District Attorney’s office. He met and became good friends with Rockwall Pediatrician Dr. Kurt Pflieger after his first child, Weston, was born in Feb. 2007. It was Dr. Pflieger who initially introduced Jeff to the idea of joining the Rockwall Rotary Club, and in 2008, Jeff began his Rotary story by officially becoming a member of the club.

During that year, Jeff helped coordinate rest stops for the Rockwall Rotary’s annual Hot Rocks Bike Ride and both he and Williams were later recognized as Outstanding Contributors to the fundraiser. He then served as club service chair in 2009 and again in 2010. In 2011, Jeff served as the chairman for the 25^th Anniversary of Hot Rocks; unfortunately, it rained on the day of the ride that year, cutting down on the number of participants, and Jeff felt he had let his fellow Rotarians down that year. Despite this, he was asked to be vocational chair of Hot Rocks the following year, which he accepted.

Jeff served in his second year as vocational chair in 2013, and continued to serve the club as board member and vice president in 2014, and then as president-elect in 2015.

“Many of you have served this club in various capacities and roles since I’ve been a part of this club,” Jeff said, addressing his fellow Rotarians. “And for those past presidents who are here today, who have asked me to serve in some form or fashion, I want to tell you thank you, because without asking me to become involved, my Rotary story might still be unwritten.”

Jeff then introduced the new directors and officers for the coming year for the Rotary:

President Elect – Tim Hartley
Vice President – David Loftis
Immediate Past President – Brian Williams
Secretary – Ginny Ryan
Treasurer – Brad Epstein
Sergeant at Arms – Dave Butler
Directors at Large – Barbara Allan, Larry Parks, Tom Ryan
Vocational Service – David Sweet
International Service – Bill Cecil
Club Service – David Rains
Community Service – Stephen Straughan
Youth Services – John Curtis
RI Foundation – Greg Blair

“I personally wish to congratulate each and every one of you for saying ‘yes’ and ‘I do’ when I personally approached you and asked you to serve in that capacity,” Jeff said. “Each of you were chosen because I want this to be a diverse group of Rotarians, and your Board is about as diverse as it can be. Each of you bring your own unique skills to this job, and I ask that you continue to write your own Rotary story as we continue to progress.”

Immediate Past President Brian Williams also awarded Jay Bedford – who manages the Rockwall Rotary Club’s building at 408 S Goliad St. – as Rotarian of the Year.

“Jay has done so much for this club and a lot of people don’t really see it on a day-to-day basis,” Williams said. “He volunteered several years ago to step forward and manage the Rotary Club building, and all that goes with it. He’s a tremendous Rotarian, and I’m very honored to present this award to him.”

Story by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News editor. Photos by Richard Redig, Blue Ribbon News.

Your #1 source for positive hometown stories, entertainment and events.