Hal Rochkind was named as GHF president for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
To commemorate the new appointment, Galveston Historical Foundation created a video of Hal to address its members from the historic Garden Verein.
To view the full video, click here.
An excerpt from his recent address:
“These are interesting times, to say the least, and challenging times to put it mildly. But this is nothing Galveston hasn’t experienced before. The 1918 Spanish Flu was in Galveston 102 years ago. Mayor Isaac Kempner closed theaters and dance halls on October 11, 1918, and the school board closed public schools for almost a month that same day. There were bans on meeting places and entertainment venues. The people of Galveston at that time were resilient. They had just experienced the worst natural disaster and loss of life to date in the 1900 Storm, then the often-forgotten Hurricane of 1915, only to be followed up with a pandemic a few years later. Sound familiar? Hurricane Ike knocked us down 12 years ago, but we got up. Today we face another pandemic, and times are tough. Just like 100 years ago, the people of Galveston are resilient.
It is my distinct honor to serve as president of GHF this year. Without a doubt, our organization boasts the best members, volunteers, and staff. We have so much to look forward to. A new exhibit at Galveston’s Historic Seaport, Ship to Shore. A finished conservatory at Bishop’s Palace, and the completion of another revolving fund house. We have many challenges, as well. GHF just had a virtual homes tour instead of the very popular in-person event. This year’s Dickens might look a little different with top hats and face masks, but we will adapt and carry on. With your continued support, we’ll weather this storm like we always have. Thank you.”
