Leadership Gillespie County 2024

06/13/2024

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟

Joining Leadership Gillespie County has been an incredible journey! 🚀 Making new connections to our community and delving into our infrastructure and history has been truly eye-opening. 🌄

If you're passionate about making a difference and want to deepen your understanding of our local area, Leadership Gillespie County is the perfect opportunity for you! 🎓✨

This two-year immersive program offers retreats, educational sessions, and hands-on experiences to help you grow as a leader and make a positive impact in our community. Plus, as a graduate, you'll have the chance to mentor incoming members and shape the future of our program. 💼👥

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your network, enhance your knowledge, and develop essential leadership skills. Join us and be a part of something truly special! 💪 Apply Here:

The Leadership Gillespie County program, started in 1994, takes a group of community leaders on a two-year journey of learning all there is to know about the goings-on of the area in which they live, do business, and have fun. During the first year, participants attend a retreat and nine educational...

05/20/2024

🎓 Graduation Day for Leadership Gillespie County Class of 2024! 🎓
What a journey it has been! This incredible group of people has made our community and each other proud. We have learned so much about our beautiful Gillespie County and have gained some awesome friends along the way.

Here's to the memories we've made, the lessons we've learned, and the bright future ahead for each one of us. Congratulations, Class of 2024! 🌟🙌

Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce

05/17/2024

🌟 Leadership Gillespie County Day Recap! 🌟

We had an action-packed and enlightening day!

🍳 Breakfast: We kicked off the day with a delicious breakfast sponsored by Reeh Law Firm.

🏛️ City of Fredericksburg Public Works: Kris Kneese gave an informative presentation, followed by a fascinating tour of a Wellfield.

🥪 Lunch: Many thanks to Waymaker Designs for sponsoring our lunch! We also received a comprehensive overview of the City of Fredericksburg's Comprehensive Plan by Anna Hudson.

✈️ Airport Tour: Ethan Crane provided a fantastic tour of the FBO Gillespie County Airport. We also enjoyed exploring the Hanger Hotel Conference Center with Courtney Walker.

⚡ Central Texas Electric COOP: A cool tour and engaging Q&A session with Tachi Hinojosa offered us valuable insights into the energy sector.

🍻 Happy Hour: We ended our incredible day with a fun and relaxing happy hour at the White Elephant Saloon.

A huge thank you to all our sponsors and speakers for making this day so memorable and enriching! 🙌✨

05/16/2024

The Leadership Gillespie County class recently hosted a memorable Open House event to celebrate the rich heritage of Gillespie County and the historic inauguration of the area’s first African American church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Gillespie County. The event was a resounding success with a significant turnout from the community, showing strong support and enthusiasm for this important milestone.

The day was filled with engaging activities and informational displays that highlighted the cultural and historical significance of the new church and its role within the community. Attendees were treated to a variety of presentations and tours, giving them an insight into the storied past and hopeful future of the church.

We were also fortunate to receive generous donations from attendees, which will go towards furthering the project and supporting the church’s activities. A heartfelt thank you is extended to our sponsors, the Pioneer Museum, Albert Hotel, Ewald Kabota, Lost Draw Wines, Texas Wine Collective ollective, Texas Hill Country Bank and a special thanks to the Fredericksburg High School Culinary Department for their partnership and culinary delights that added a special flavor to the event.

The success of the Open House is a testament to the strong spirit of community and collaboration in Gillespie County. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and helped make this event a significant and memorable celebration.

04/17/2024

Today is the day for the historic Open House event hosted by The Leadership Gillespie County class! Join us as we celebrate the rich heritage of Gillespie County and the inauguration of the first African American church in the area, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Gillespie County.

📅 Today: April 17th
🕔 Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Where: 602 E Main St, Fredericksburg, TX

We're thrilled to welcome you to this momentous occasion. Let's come together as a community to honor our shared history and embrace our diversity. See you there!

Can't attend? You can still contribute to this meaningful cause by donating here: https://www.cmecfbgtx.org/donate?fbclid=IwAR0ep_kKMR9u19Z6WL0O8yed-JcnvTKzu0CpNxsMKzcSrCst3qtAv0t-lPU

04/16/2024

🌟 What an incredible start to April with Leadership Gillespie County! 🌟

Our day kicked off with a delicious breakfast sponsored by Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, followed by an enlightening tour of the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post and a captivating media panel featuring Ken Cooke and Jan Fritz Texas Rebel Radio Network

Next, we embarked on a journey to the Visit Fredericksburg TX Center, where we engaged in an insightful tourism panel discussion led by Jim Mikula from the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce and Brady Closson from the Visit Fredericksburg TX

Then, we headed to National Museum of the Pacific War Ballroom while enjoying a delectable lunch courtesy of the Albert Hotel. The highlight of the afternoon was undoubtedly Mike Bolick's presentation on managing different generations, followed by an engaging Q&A session led by Debbie Rarquhar Reeh of Creative Marketing, focusing on the iconic Oktoberfest.

But the excitement didn't stop there! We were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Albert Hotel, set to open its doors in 2024, offering a sneak peek into what promises to be a remarkable addition to our community.

Our day concluded at the Texas Heritage Vineyard Production Facility, where owner Susan Johnson shared invaluable insights into tourism impact, followed by an exclusive production tour and wine tasting led by winemaker Tyler Buddemeyer, showcasing wines grown right here in Gillespie County.

Thank you to all our sponsors, speakers, and hosts for making this day unforgettable! 🚀 🌟🍇🍷

04/09/2024

The Leadership Gillespie County class is thrilled to invite you to the Open House of the first African American church in Gillespie County, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Gillespie County.
🗓️ Save the Date: April 17th
🕔 Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: 602 E Main St, Fredericksburg, TX

We can't wait to see you there! 🎉
If you can't make it please donate here!

Currently, funds are being raised to build a replica of the one-room schoolhouse that served local African American children from the late 1800s until the 1930s. Future plans include a museum of artifacts, landscape improvements and a bride’s changing room for weddings. Give to today and help supp...

04/01/2024

📣 Join us for a truly historic occasion! 🏛️ The Leadership Gillespie County class is thrilled to invite you to the Open House of the first African American church in Gillespie County, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Gillespie County.
🗓️ Save the Date: April 17th
🕔 Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: 602 E Main St, Fredericksburg, TX

Visit Fredericksburg TX

The segregated church that sat abandoned on Main St. for years is now restored, but the story continues as Gary commissions world renown artist Jonas Perkins...

03/29/2024

Help us bring this history back to life! Join us on April 17th for a Open House from 5-7pm.

Currently, funds are being raised to build a replica of the one-room schoolhouse that served local African American children from the late 1800s until the 1930s. Future plans include a museum of artifacts, landscape improvements and a bride’s changing room for weddings.

03/27/2024

This Open House is the culmination of the Leadership Gillespie County class project, inspired by our visit with Dr. Paul Phillips back in October. From that moment, we knew we wanted to shine a spotlight on this hidden gem of our community.

Spread the word and join us as we raise awareness for this important piece of Gillespie County's history. Let's come together to honor and celebrate the legacy of this landmark church, and ensure its story is known far and wide.

🎉 Save the date! 🏛️ Join us for a special Open House on April 17th from 5-7 PM at the historic African American church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Gillespie County.

📍 Where: 602 E Main St, Fredericksburg, TX

See you there! 🌟

03/25/2024

Join us on April 17th from 5-7pm for a open house to help this history alive.

Step into the past and explore the historical landmark that is the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Gillespie County and soon, the replica of the original schoolhouse. This special site holds a significant place in our community’s history.

The Phillips family’s journey from slavery to success Texas of the 1860s was still untamed territory when 15-year-old John Phillips, a runaway slave from Louisiana, arrived in Fredericksburg around 1863. John landed in Willow City, where he worked as a day laborer. He met and married Mary Duering ...

03/22/2024

Join us on April 17th from 5-7pm to share this piece of history with the Fredericksburg community.
Today, descendants of these original families are committed to preserving the structures that were built by that community in 1877. As 4th and 5th generation African Americans, their mission is to discover past histories, tell their individual stories and be included in the rich heritage of Fredericksburg, Texas and Gillespie County. This ongoing project will continue into perpetuity and serve as a beacon of inclusion, acceptance and legacies for decades to come.

The descendants of Black settlers renovate their historic church with the help of the community in Fredericksburg, Texas.