PDG Rick Stacy initial comments prior to the installation
o Feb. 23, 1905
o Who was the first president of the Rotary Club in Chicago…not Paul Harris, but Silvester Schiele. Paul Harris said the president was the most important position in Rotary; and Schiele had organization skills as well as integrity, warmth, humility and dependability.
o How music came to Rotary meetings…Harry Ruggles (the 5th member of the Rotary Club of Chicago) was at a Rotary meeting with a speaker of whom Ruggles had heard before and knew there was an off-color ending. So, right before that part, Ruggles jumped up, interrupted and shouted, “Come on boys, let’s sing!”
o What is the philosophy of a Club….that the backbone of Rotary is the clubs—not the District or RI. The president of a Club is the highest honor in a Club. The president must inspire, engage, motivate members and make meetings fun plus ‘make fellowship’.
Installation
o President Rick installed Linda Boxberger as Rotary Club of South Austin’s president for the Rotary year 2026-2027
o Next installed were the officers:
Jim McComb, Treasurer
Shirley Diepenbrock, Secretary
Lisa Killough, Immediate Past President
Amber Scarborough, Director
Sherrick West, Sgt-at-Arms
Dawn Lewis, Foundation Chair
• Presentation—of the newly minted Rotary Exchange Banners for South Austin, Linda presented the
very first banner to PDG Rick
• Rick Stacy info---he was DG in 2020-2021…COVID year; originally a long-time member of the RC of
Marble Falls, and is now a member of the Hill Country Passport Club. He stated that more Passport Clubs are needed in Austin, Waco, Temple, Killeen. Many former Rotarians are likely prospects for members into a Passport Club.
