Rob R.
he, him, his
President & Fundraising
rob.r@austingalano.org
My husband and I arrived in Austin in 2007 from California where we met in an AA meeting in 1989. When we were deciding to move to Austin, we first visited for a week and attended AA meetings to make sure we liked the fellowship. We fell in love with Lambda live and let live and became active right away! Seeing the Galano Club grow from an idea into a place that it is today is a testament to the service of so many! I am so proud to be a member of this board.
Board Term: 2021-2023
Tré C.
he, him, his
Secretary, Coffee Bar,
Communications
tre.c@austingalano.org
I’ve been sober since 12/08/2018. I’m a musician and visual designer from southeast Texas who survived 5 years of the Midwest. I enjoy my dog Dessner, reading books about history & politics, horror films, mental health, and foods that are both salty and sweet. I’m passionate about queer advocacy as well as helping others stay sober through the 12 Steps. Serving as a board member for AGC is a humbling opportunity that beautifully fulfills this intersection of my passions.
Board Term: 2020-2022
Troy C.
he, him, his
Membership
troy.c@austingalano.org
I moved to Austin in 1988 and got sober the last time, seven months later. I had experienced Lambda in a prior sobriety, but it had died while I was back out. But Live and Let Live was alive and well and that is where I got my desire chip on March 30, 1998. Since that time and through the aid of four sponsors, I have stayed sober one day at a time through three careers. I have previously served in several positions with Lambda/Live and Let Live AA group and have sponsored many men over the last 31 years. As an out gay man in recovery, I cherish the placed that Galano has in the Austin Recovery Community as well as the Austin Gay Community. May it always be a vibrant part of Austin’s recovery community, where all are welcome.
Board Term: 2022-2024
Casey K.
he, him, his
Events
casey.k@austingalano.org
I moved to Austin from my small home town in 2000 and never looked back. I found my devoted husband, I found lifelong friends, but I also found a flood of alcohol and my drug of choice. When I thought all was lost, I found a community of love in 12 step fellowships through the Galano Club. My sponsor is a founding member of the club and it’s in his spirit that I continue to be of service and give back. It’s the least I can do. More than a building, after all, the Galano Club saved my life.
Board Term: 2022-2024
Jason D.
he, him, his
Vice President, Events
jason.d@austingalano.org
Immediately after relocating to Austin in May 2019, I jumped into Austin Galano Club meetings. I was grateful to find my people. I got sober in December of 1998 in Los Angeles and spent the next 15 years there. During this time, I was on the Hot N Dry committee as well as the AALA fundraising committee. I was taught early on to get involved, stay involved, but most importantly to have fun. I then moved to DC and became the Vice President of the Triangle Club and met another group of people that liked to be involved and have fun. I’m grateful for this opportunity to be on the Austin Galano board. Only three years in Austin and most of my local friends, that aren’t coworkers, I have met at the club. Once again I’ve found a group of people that like to be of service and have fun. The Austin Galano Club is a special place and I’m very aware of how hard it was to get off the ground 10 years ago. So grateful that there was the group of people that set out to create this clubhouse and succeeded. I will try to do what I can to continue this legacy and help to make the club stronger. And most importantly, have fun.
Board Term: 2021 -2023
Loretta M.
she, her, hers
Facilities
loretta@austingalano.org
I moved to Austin in 1992 and got sober five months later. I asked if there were any 12-Step LGBT groups. I wanted positive role models to show me how to live life sober as well as love and accept myself. Thankfully, the group where I went to my first meeting is still my home group today. I got involved in service from the start and made cherished, life-long friendships. My goal is to support the Galano Club as a vibrant part of Austin’s recovery community, where all are welcome.
Board Term: 2020-2022
Heather P.
she, her, hers
Co-Secretary & Communications
heather.p@austingalano.org
I grew up in Austin and graduated from Baylor University in 1995. I’m a mother to an 18-year-old son, have two feisty rat terriers, and have worked in B2B Tech digital media for over 20 years. I got sober in the summer of 2018 and soon after found a vibrant, authentic, and caring sober family at Austin Galano Club. As a lifelong proud ally, I look forward to giving back to this community as a board member, as this club has given me the greatest gift of all – a life beyond my wildest dreams.
Board Term: 2022-2024
Jonathan W.
hi, him, his
Member At-Large
jonathan.w@austingalano.org
I’m originally from Taylor, TX but visited Austin often growing up. I got sober February 15, 2015 and attended my first meeting at Galano and have remained a member since. I am currently a full time stay-at-home dad of two children my husband and I adopted. I enjoy having a space to call “home” to keep me connected to my friends and family in recovery. I love to travel and have had the pleasure of attending meetings in other cities, states, countries and even on a couple of cruise ships.
Board Term: 2022-2024
Matthew M.
he, him, his
Treasurer
matthew.m@austingalano.org
Born and raised in Austin Texas, I ended up at the Galano Club shortly after getting sober in 2014, and in many ways it has been a home ever since. Not only did it provide a space in which to be sober, but it also provided a space in which I could learn how to be a gay man comfortable in my own skin. Today, I am going to college to pursue a nursing degree. I have had the opportunity to do service work all over the world since getting sober. I’m not sure any of that would have been possible were it not for the love and support the club provided in early sobriety. I truly believe it would be safe to say that the Galano Club saves lives, and it is an honor to contribute to that in any way that I can.
Board Term: 2021-2023
Mel M.
he, him, his
Education/Outreach
mel.m@austingalano.org
I grew up in northern Ohio, but have been in Austin since 1991. I found Galano and an agnostic 12-Step meeting in 2019. “There were people there that showed me the steps in a way that made sense to me. Since that day, I thank the universe for Galano, because this club saved my life. As a board member, I want to ensure that Galano’s mission leads more people into recovery through how we act and how we can connect to our LGBTQIA+ community.
Board Term: 2020-2022
Casey P.
he, him, his
Coffee Bar
casey.p@austingalano.org
I grew up in Seattle Washington moved here from New York got clean in 2016. I just passed my 5 years clean without a relapse. I want to serve on the board to do what I can for the recovery community and myself by being of service at Galano and have done service work for Galano since the day I started coming to the club. I would do two coffee shifts everyday and I serve my home group which is Children of Chaos as a hospitality person. I’m at the club every single day opening it at 11:00 a.m. and closing at 1:15 Monday through Friday. I f it wasn’t for Galano and all the service work that they have available, I would not have ever gotten clean. I owe my life to Galano and that’s why I want to serve on the board, to continue doing service work. I have to mention my dear dog Frankie, as she has been with me thru my journey and is also a greeter at the club.
Board Term: 2022-2024
Peter. T.
he, him, his
Co-Treasurer / IT / Website
peter.t@austingalano.org
My recovery journey began in St. Petersburg, Florida, but life events uprooted me to Austin in April 2015. The Galano Club became my new home away from home, introducing me to the Texas Recovery hospitality that helps me thrive. I always look forward to connecting at the holiday parties, cleaning days of service, or just hanging out in the coffee lounge catching up with friends or committees I have had the privilege to serve with here in ATX. “Suit up and show up” was my first sponsor’s favorite line… and I look forward to serving on the board and continuing to grow and learn as I interact with different aspects of the Austin recovery community. I am truly humbled to serve Austin Galano Club and help foster a safe space for unity and service for all fellowships and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Board Term: 2022-2024
We’re a diverse group of people who volunteer as servant leaders for the Austin Galano Club community. Meet our amazing team.
To reach the entire board, send email to: board@austingalano.org.
To contact the AGC officers, send email to: info@austingalano.org.
What is Servant Leadership?
While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in “The Servant as Leader”, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, Greenleaf said:[citation needed]
“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.”
“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?“
Robert Greenleaf recognized that organizations as well as individuals could be servant-leaders. Indeed, he had great faith that servant-leader organizations could change the world. In his second major essay, “The Institution as Servant” (1972), Greenleaf articulated what is often called the “credo.” There he said:
“This is my thesis: caring for persons, the more able and the less able serving each other, is the rock upon which a good society is built. Whereas, until recently, caring was largely person to person, now most of it is mediated through institutions – often large, complex, powerful, impersonal; not always competent; sometimes corrupt. If a better society is to be built, one that is more just and more loving, one that provides greater creative opportunity for its people, then the most open course is to raise both the capacity to serve and the very performance as servant of existing major institutions by new regenerative forces operating within them.” [3]
