We are distinctly privileged to have in our midst, people of great accomplishment and of recognition. In 2002, our own Mary Metz was honoured by Queen Elizabeth in her Queen's Birthday Honours List. Mary was named an MBE, or Member of the Order of The British Empire.

The Queen's honours are given twice a year, at the time of the New Year, and at the time of the Queen's birthday. For 2002, the Birthday Honours were listed on June 14th in the London Times and the Daily Telegraph and were communicated on behalf of the Queen, by the Prime Minister.

Honours on the Order of The British Empire are given for special achievements, either in a field of vocation or avocation, or of volunteerism. There are awards both in Military and Civil divisions, and the honour awarded Mary, is in the Overseas section, under MBE, and reads, "To be Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of said Most Excellent Order: For Services to Scottish - Texan cultural and business links".

Word came from Bill Niesh, Press and Public Relations Officer for our twin, Grampian-Houston Association, of an article in the Aberdeen Press and Journal which said: "Grampian Region has been twinned officially with the sprawling megalopolis of Houston, Texas, since 1979. And in that time there have been many business, cultural, social and sporting links established - thanks to the dedicated people who have kept the twinning flame alive. Now, one stalwart at the Houston end, Mary Metz, has been made an MBE in the overseas section of the Queen's Birthday Honours List. She is a past president of the Houston-Grampian Association and is an important link in the annual exchange of student nurses. English-born, Mary has received the decoration for her services to Scottish-Texan cultural and business links."

Mary, we congratulate you on your well-deserved honour, and we applaud and thank the Queen for her excellent choice in recognizing one so giving to her community, and so tenacious in her accomplishments of enriching all of the people and organizations with whom she is associated.

Mary's honour was presented to her at Buckingham Palace on November 5, and she is shown above just after receiving it.

Mary's honour carries on a tradition of high accomplishments by HGA members, as she follows in the footsteps of Stewart Bain and Rosemary Ryan. Stewart received his MBE in 1978 when he was Managing Director of International Aeradio Limited, Zambia (parent company was BOAC). The citation on the award states that he was honoured "for services to commerce". A long time, active member of HGA, together with his wife Aurise, Stewart has furthered the excellent traditions of Scotland and Houston and this award is most appropriate recognition to a great Scot.

With great service to HGA as our chief administrator, Rosemary Ryan was awarded the MBE by the Queen in April of 1995. Rosemary is a very proud member of HGA and has spent many active years in her leadership role in the organization and our members.

Rosemary's award was presented to her by Bernard Everett, the British Consul-General, and she was fortunate to be accompanied by six of her seven children and one of her grandchildren at the presentation. In earning this award, Rosemary was a stand-out recipient in that she is not British born, but was deserving of the Queen's honour because of her steadfast service and her numerous and ongoing contributions to the community and to Aberdeen-Houston relationships.