Jim Strickland

If you ask Jim Strickland what he's most proud of in his 35 years as a Rotarian, he won’t start with titles or awards. He’ll likely shrug, crack a dry joke, and say something like, “Well, I kept showing up.” But beneath the modesty is a story of quiet commitment—especially during a time when just showing up meant everything.

Jim served as president of the Rotary Club of Westlake in 2008. It was a pivotal time. The club had recently transitioned from lunch meetings to early breakfasts, and long-time members had scattered. Later, the move out of the Lutheran church further splintered the group. At one point, membership dipped to just 12 from 80. That’s when Jim took over the club. His goal during his presidency was simple and resolute: keep the lights on.

“I just wanted to have a club at the end of the year,” he said. “We still had a core group, and we started bringing in a few others. The focus wasn’t on numbers—it was on continuity.”

Jim doesn’t take credit for the growth that followed. “That came under later leadership,” he insists. “My job was just to help us get through that tough stretch.” But that steady presence laid the groundwork. Today, the club has 27 members on the roster, with a consistent turnout of about 15–18 per week. It's a leaner group than the 80-member heyday, but one that’s active, resilient, and mission-driven.

What’s changed most, Jim reflects, is the cultural rhythm of service. “Thirty-five years ago, I joined Rotary for the fellowship—and helping others was the byproduct,” he says. “Now, younger people want to help first. But the idea of meeting every week? That’s not how they operate.” He describes a shift from structured commitments to spontaneous, app-based volunteering. “They want to be philanthropic, but on their own terms. I think Rotary’s going to have to adjust to that if it wants to keep thriving.”

And yet, for Jim, it’s the meeting that still matters most. “Every Tuesday, I get to hang out with people I care about. Maybe they’re more acquaintances than friends—but they’re my people.” He chuckles. “I’m not crazy about clearing brush or picking up trash. But I show up. That’s what we do.”

That habit—of showing up—has added up to 35 years of perfect attendance. A streak kept alive not through obligation, but through fellowship and consistency. “That weekly rhythm gives me value,” Jim says. “I don’t go to Rotary to change the world. I go because I believe in showing up for the people around me.”

It’s a theme that runs through his life. As a former EANES school board member from 2002 to 2011—and its president from 2008 to 2010—Jim helped guide one of Texas’s top-ranked school districts through seasons of both change and continuity. “I’m proud of that work,” he says. “Westlake has always had a culture of excellence. It’s been my privilege to be a part of it.”

Jim is reflective about his fortune. “I won the lottery,” he says, “just being born where and when I was. Great parents, great country, great timing. I’ve lived through a century of innovation and relative peace. And because I’ve been given so much, I believe it’s my responsibility to give back.”

And give back he has—without fanfare, without chasing credit, and always with a half-smile and cold humor.