There is this joke in Rotary about being the president of a Rotary club: “The second-best job in Rotary is being a club president. But the best job is being a past president.”
The joke is told. People laugh and smile. For some, perhaps it is reality. But not for me – a past president of the Rotary Club of Farragut (2013-14). My year as president was enjoyable, fulfilling and fun. It was busy as it is for every Rotary president. When it ended, I missed it.
This is the time of the year when clubs select their leadership teams and the Farragut club is no different. Our club has a presidential ladder. Each year we select a vice president and that person will eventually become our club president, moving up the ladder to president elect and then president.
Earlier today, the club elected local banker Staci Wilkerson to be its 2018-19 vice president, which means she will be the club president in 2020-21. Staci has been a Farragut Rotarian for six years and is vice president/commercial relationship manager at FirstBank in Farragut. She currently serves as secretary of the club.
Rotary does not conduct operations and business on a traditional calendar year. The Rotary year runs from July 1 to June 30. So, president elect Keith Bryson, chief operating officer at Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, will become our president on July 1, 2018, and current vice president Chris Thomas will move into the president elect position and he will serve as president in 2019-20. Chris is branch manager of United Community Bank in Lenoir City.
Here is the complete slate of the club’s officers and directors for the 2018-19 Rotary year:
- President: Keith Bryson
- President Elect: Chris Thomas
- Vice President: Staci Wilkerson
- Secretary: Julie Blaylock
- Treasurer: Jerry Dietz
- Sgt. at Arms: Jim Dodd
- Past President: Chris Camp
- Administration: Chris Thomas & Staci Wilkerson
- Family of Rotary: The Rev. David Bluford & Ron Lawrence
- International: Becky Duncan & Amanda DeBord
- Membership: Fred Martin & Nancy Bosson
- Public Relations: Tom King & Mary Ann Imgram
- Rotary Foundation: Mark Holder
- Service Projects: Teri Jo Fox & Val Privett
- Youth Service: Kristin Abouelata & Bill Nichols
This board will have plenty of experience on hand with six past presidents serving: myself, Chris Camp, Ron Lawrence, Becky Duncan, Mary Ann Imgram and Fred Martin.
Closed for the holidays: Farragut Rotary will not be meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 27, to observe the Christmas holiday and will be dark on Wednesday, Jan. 3, for New Year’s. The club’s first meeting in 2018 will be Jan. 10 at Fox Den Country Club (12:15 p.m.) with a program to be presented by Nicole Chandler, executive director of The Change Center, and Bruce Charles, chief financial and entrepreneurial officer, from the Center. Come join us for a great program.