The 2007 Annual General Meeting of The Houston Grampian Association was held at the Braeburn Country Club on Saturday, March 10 to discuss the business of the previous year, plans for the coming year and to elect new directors and officers for the organization. Since the passing of our "Perpetual Chairman", C. Jim Stewart, we have not had a chairman and this year, a highlight of the evening was the election of our new Chairman, Mary Metz, MBE and our new President, Bob Gilbert, founding member of the Houston Grampian Association. Mary has long been our "go to" person, with the knowledge of protocol and procedures for us to follow in our relationship with our Sister City members from Aberdeen, with the office of the Mayor of Houston and the British Consulate, as well as appropriate matters of organization and communication.

Our outgoing President, James Prappas was unable to attend the meeting this year, as he was on a great Spring Break vacation trip with his children. In his place, our Treasurer/Vice President, Tom Gossett called the meeting to order and asked Bob Gilbert to do the blessing. We enjoyed a delicious dinner with lots of visiting. At the conclusion of the meal, Bob Gilbert proposed a Loyal Toast to the President of the United States and past President, Dwight Beach proposed a toast to Her Majesty, the Queen.

The business meeting then began with reports given by committee chair persons, including reports on the upcoming OTC breakfast in April, the budget, Sister Cities, Visiting Nurses, Website and then a report from the nominating committee by Mary Metz to offer nominations for open Board positions. Following her report, it was moved that nominations cease and that the slate proposed by the nominating committee be elected by acclamation. The motion passed.

New directors who were elected to serve three year terms are Aurise Bain, Simon Frame and Bob Gilbert. To fill open two year terms, Mary Metz and John Fowler were elected. The board members then retreated to elect a new president for the coming year and returned to announce that Bob Gilbert has been elected to that position and that Mary Metz was elected to be our first Chairman since the death of Jim Stewart. Quin McWhirter was elected Vice President and John Fowler was elected Treasurer, after Tom Gossett served us so ably in that position for the last ten years.

Our entertainment for the evening was provided by Gilbert Sedeņo, who served as our disc jockey and provided background music during dinner and music for dancing following the business meeting. Due to the fact that our meeting was held during the time of Spring Break and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the crowd was a bit smaller than usual, but of extremely high quality and those who were present enjoyed the time together visiting and dancing.