Congratulations to Tammy Gilland from the Classic City Rotary Club who was named this year’s overall District 6910 Most Valuable Player and Rotarian of the Year! A Rotarian since 2006, Tammy exemplifies leadership, dedication, and “Service Above Self,” making a lasting impact across District 6910 and in her local community. Learn more about her Rotary journey.
District 6910’s Area Governor and Board Secretary Tammy Gilland was recently named the District Rotarian of the Year by District Governor Bobby Hildreth. A Rotarian since 2006, Gilland believes that Rotary has helped her become a stronger leader both professionally and in the community.
“Rotary has provided me with opportunities to grow, connect, and serve,” she said. “Being a Rotarian has allowed me to learn from seasoned professionals; to strengthen my planning, budgeting, and execution skills; and opened my eyes to the needs we have here in our community and around the world. Rotary has made me an overall better person and servant leader.”
Gilland serves as the Director of Community Relations for Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. Prior to her role in Community Relations, she served as the Executive Director of the Piedmont Athens Regional Foundation, having worked with Piedmont for 12 years.
Gilland began her professional life at The University of Georgia in Athens where she had a long and varied 23-year career. She served as the Coordinator of Alumni Relations and Development for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Director of Annual Giving, Director of Resource Operations, Director of Constituent Based Programs, and as the Interim Assistant to the Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs. While at UGA, she created and led the UGA Parents and Families Association and the UGA Board of Visitors.
Gilland’s Rotary journey began on April 11, 2006, when she became a member of the Rotary Club of Oconee County. She initially joined Rotary to become more involved in her community. She said, “I grew up in the Georgia 4-H program and learned the importance of community service at an early age. Rotary was a great fit for me. It provided me with the opportunity to serve and share my talents and treasures.”
And share she has. Gilland has been very active in the Athens and Oconee county communities serving on the boards of the Athens and Oconee County Chambers of Commerce. In addition, she has served on the boards of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, Project Safe, Junior League of Athens, Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club, The American Red Cross, Family Promise of Athens, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, and the Oconee County GOP. Other board service has included the Oconee County Pilot Club, Clarke County Sheriff’s Foundation, Hope Haven, Envision Athens, Oconee Land Use and Transportation Committee, Oconee County Relay for Life, Greater Athens Heart Walk, Athens YWCO, Oconee 4-H Program Development Team, College of Family and Consumer Sciences Alumni Association, Boy Scouts of Northeast Georgia, and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.
Aside from serving as the Area Eight and Nine Area Governor and Secretary to the Board, Gilland is a Rotary Learning Facilitator, a Rotary Leadership Institute Discussion Leader and has served on four District Conference Planning Committees. This year, she served as the co-chair of the District Fall Tailgate Party. Her club activities have included serving as the President, Secretary and Youth Service Chair of the Oconee County Rotary Club. For the Classic City Rotary Club, she has served in the positions of Secretary and On To Conference Chair.
While serving her community, Gilland has been recognized with numerous honors and awards including the Athena Award from the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, the Diamond Award and Sharon Johnson Volunteer of the Year Award from the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce, and she was named the Athens Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. She received the Rotarian of the Year and the Four Way Test awards from the Oconee County Rotary Club, and the Outstanding Service Award, Pace Setter Award, Distinguished Alumni Award and Centennial Honoree by UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Gilland is married to Geof Gilland and they have two adult children, Lyndsey and Tyler. Lyndsey works as the Manager of Oncology at Piedmont Athens Regional. She is married to Chase Lee and they have two sons, Watson (age 2) and Wyatt (age 9 months). Gilland’s son, Tyler, is a Navy Corpsman serving at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. In her spare time, Gilland enjoys running, reading, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldawgs, Atlanta Braves, and the Athens Rock Lobsters.
