The Rotary Club of Galveston held its annual change of leadership meeting on June 18 at Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant in downtown Galveston with the installation of the new president, executive team and board of directors. Pictured (front row, left to right): Kathy VanDewalli, president; Barbara Winburn, past-president; Susan Syler and (seated) Stephan Duncan, seargent-at-arms. (Back row, left to right): Jennifer Kelso, Treasurer; Lauren Suderman Millo, president-elect; Chris Homer, president-nominee; Mari Berend, Ruth Suhler, Secretary; Joseph Hugger, Randall Robinson, Lodie Massey, Jay Sims, Don Davison and Barbara Sanderson. Directors not pictured: Susannah Brown and Judy Johnson.
The Rotary Club of Galveston held its annual leadership installation ceremonies on June 18th at Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant. The new president and board of directors will guide the club through June next year.
At the installation, held during the Rotary Club of Galveston’s regular weekly meeting, past president Barbara Winburn gave her end-of-term report of accomplishments, which included a record fundraising chili-supper event and scholarship distribution, and highlighted the club’s District Grant project - a “Born Learning” trail completed and installed at Austin Elementary in Galveston in partnership with the United Way of Galveston.
Kathy VanDewalli was presented and installed as the club’s new president. “I am honored to serve as president of the Rotary Club of Galveston,” VanDewalli said. “The theme for the new Rotary year is “Unite for Good,” and I can’t think of a better theme to showcase Rotarians mission of “service above self.” She continued, “I am humbled to follow our club’s legacy of leadership, and excited to work alongside our dedicated members in bettering our community and the world through service.”
VanDewalli, is the Parish Administrator at Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston. Previously, she was the director of marketing for The Grand 1894 Opera House. She credited her mentor at The Grand, executive director Maureen Patton, for introducing her to Rotary.
In addition to her installation, in her first act as the club’s new president, VanDewalli thanked past-president Barbara Winburn for her service to the club and introduced Lauren Suderman Millo as the club’s president-elect. VanDewalli followed by introducing the 2025-26 board: Chris Homer, president-nominee; Ruth Suhler, secretary; Jennifer Kelso, treasurer; Stephan Duncan, sergeant-at-arms; and new and returning directors Mari Berend, Susannah Brown, Don Davison, Joseph Huggers, Judy Johnson, Lodie Massey, Randall Robinson, Barbara Sanderson, Jay Sims, and Susan Syler.
The Rotary Club of Galveston was founded on February 24, 1913 as the 5th club founded in Texas, and recently celebrated 112 years of service in the community. The Rotary Club of Galveston is a member of the Rotary global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
The Rotary Club of Galveston meets weekly on Wednesdays at Noon at Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant in downtown Galveston. For more information on membership or to attend a meeting as a guest, please visit the club website at www.galvestonrotary.com, or email rotaryclubofgalveston@gmail.com.