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Sugar Land Rotary Installs 2016-17 Officers, Rick Smith is the Club's new President
 
 
SUGAR LAND, TX  ̶   In June, Sugar Land Rotary installed a new slate of officers for 2016--17 that includes: Rick Smith, President; Jim Munnell, President-Elect; Tabb Dye, Vice-President, Margie Connolly, Secretary; Raleigh Bailes, Treasurer; Sergeant-at-Arms, Lance Ragle, and Stacy Croft DC, Past-President.
 
The newly installed Rotary president, Rick Smith, thanked all the past Club Presidents and especially Stacy Croft who served as president the past year. "Stacy has done a great job as president, and the membership growth has been outstanding," said Smith. "Sugar Land Rotary's membership growth accounted for a large portion of the total growth in membership for Rotary District 5890 this past year." Under Croft's leadership, the annual fundraiser net profits increased for the third straight year, and she received the Presidential Citation for achieving goals that strengthen Rotary, as well as Sugar Land Rotary.
 
Others serving on the Rotary leadership team in 2016-17 include: Community Service, Karl Schleicher; Fall Classic Chair, Jeff Tallas PDG; Vocational Service, Rob Thompson; Club Service, Club Chance; Director- Parliamentarian, Patrick Bullard; International Service, Ward Pendleton; New Generation - Youth Service, Doerthe Gottschalk-Hofmaier; RI Foundation Club Chair, Richard Booker; Public Relations, Nancy Porter; and Director-Membership, Rebecca Deurlein.
 
"Thank you all for allowing me to be Club President this coming year. I am honored and really look forward to serving," said Smith. "We are going to do a lot of good and have fun doing it."
 
Rick Smith joined Sugar Land Rotary in March 2011. He first participated in Rotary by driving teenagers for a Rotary weekend retreat, and then was really inspired by a Santa's Exchange event that impacted the lives of more than 4,000 children in need. He served as Secretary, Treasurer, Fall Classic Co-Chair and President-Elect before becoming the club's new president. Smith graduated from the University of Texas Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and spent 30 years working for Texas Instruments and retired in 2009 as a Vice-President of Manufacturing Operations. He also serves the Boy Scouts of American in the North Star District and is on the Board of Directors for the Sugarwood Homeowners Association. When he has any extra time, he enjoys fishing, cooking and gardening.
 
At the recent installation ceremony, awards were given to those who were Rotarians of the Month for 2015-2016, as well as those who served on the Sugar Land Rotary Board of Directors. Other awards presented include:
 
Sugar Land Rotary Hall of Fame recipient, Robert Walters.
2015-16 President Stacy Croft inducted Robert Walters into the Sugar Land Rotary Hall of Fame. "Robert Walters truly embodies the motto of Service Above Self," said Croft. "He has been a member of Sugar Land Rotary club for just over 20 years. He is a Past President of our club and Paul Harris Fellow nine times. He has held a number of board positions over the years and continues to assist our current board members (and likely our future ones) with keeping our Rotary International Data up to date and helping us to navigate the system."
 
Each year the current president is allowed to induct a Sugar Land Rotarian into our Hall of Fame. Since its inception 31 years ago, only 12 Sugar Land Rotarians have received this award. Previous inductees include: Past District Governor (PDG) Steve Harris, Steve Smelly, Bob Bilski, Marshall Whichard, PDG Jeff Tallas, Charlie Myer, Cynthia King, Bill Griffin, Robbie Bates, Sonny Johnston, Jr. and David Shaw. Simply put, they are the most extraordinary Rotarians among us.
 
Sugar Land Rotarian of the Year, Margie Connolly
Croft named Margie Connolly as the Rotarian of the Year (ROTY). The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual Rotarian who has demonstrated exemplary service to Sugar Land Rotary Club in the previous year. "Having been a member of Sugar Land Rotary club just over three years, our ROTY is there frequently with new ideas, great energy and a fantastic work ethic that really make a difference to the Club," said Croft. "Margie was not on the board this year – though that was hard to remember as she was such an integral part of many things we did – Meals-on-Wheels, Mother’s Day Brunch, the many galas we had a presence at, AND helping to organize Fall Classic 2016!"