Tom Faulkner was installed as District Governor of Rotary District 7750 on Thursday at an awards and installation banquet.
Rotary District 7750 includes 54 clubs located in the western half of South Carolina. Faulkner is the first District Governor selected from Greater Greer Rotary Club for the position. He served as the charter president of the Greer club in 2003-2004 when it was re-designated its present name.
Brian Forrester with Greer Commission of Public Works is the new president of the Rotary Club of Greater Greer. The theme of Rotary International this year is “Light Up Rotary.”
Faulkner stepped down as president of Nehemiah Community Revitalization Corporation, a faith-based community development corporation based in Greer operating throughout the state, to devote to his new position.
To initiate his year as governor, Faulkner participated in the Miracle Hill Metric Century Cycling Challenge, a 63.3-mile ride that included scaling Caesars Head. He participated to raise funds for Miracle Hill Ministries and highlight the need to eliminate homelessness from the Upstate. He is also raising funds to build a sanitation system in Mirebalais, Haiti. Since 2006, through similar rides, swims, and triathlons, he has helped raised over $150,000 for international projects in Haiti and El Salvador.
James P. Fields, Jr., executive director of Palmetto Institute, was the keynote speaker. Bank of Travelers Rest and Citizen Building and Loan, SSB were event sponsors.
The Greer club meets at Southern Thymes Café each Tuesday at 7:15 a.m. except for the third Tuesday when meetings are held at Stomping Grounds Coffee & Wine Bar on Trade Street.