Members You Need to Meet - Gene Boyd from the Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge
Friday, September 8, 2023
By Barbara Myers Myers Mason APR


It didn’t take long for Gene Boyd, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge, to transition the skills he honed from his 34-year career at a global manufacturing company into a passion project that benefits his community.  Learn how this career business executive helped to create one of our District's most thriving service projects. 

In 2020, he left Panduit, one of the first factories in Forsyth County, and started his own business, Engagement Solutions. He used his skills in project management, continuous improvement, employee engagement, and change management at the start-up, while becoming involved in the Chambers of Commerce in Union and Towns County, and the Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge.

Soon after he joined, the Rotary Club was looking for a signature project and Boyd suggested a community garden, which club members agreed. His work colleagues at one of the Panduit facilities in Chicago had planted the idea in his head.

“Every year when I went to Chicago, the guys would talk about their community garden. They would harvest tons of food every year. Many people would volunteer. All of their food went to food pantries and soup kitchens,” he said.

Boyd had imagined a regular garden, but fellow Rotarian Rick DuBois, MD, a retired infectious disease doctor who was affiliated with Juice Plus, suggested a hydroponic tower garden instead.

Dr. Dubois donated the first six towers. Another club member, Kerry Clem, who owns Boundary Waters Resort & Marina on Lake Chatuge, donated a building.

“It started and I got the bug,” Boyd said. “I put all of my efforts into getting this going, especially because we were giving to the food banks.” Boyd had never volunteered at a food pantry.   “Seeing what families were getting – nothing fresh -- that’s what really got me going.  Dropping a fresh bag of lettuce on top of their boxes keeps me driven,” he said.

Soon after the project began, Dr. DuBois passed away at the age of 83. “We were all determined to keep his passion going,” Boyd said.

Since June of 2021, the Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge has donated 4,000 bags of lettuce to local food pantries. In December of 2022, the club had outgrown the garden’s building. Soon, a rental greenhouse, in need of a new roof and floor, became available in Hiawassee. The club renovated the building before relocating the hydroponic towers.  The greenhouse owner then donated a second building to the club.

Today, Boyd and Dr. DuBois’s wife, Jan, continue to streamline the operation. To save money, Boyd learned to grow lettuce seedlings in his garage by watching YouTube videos. Starter plants were two dollars each and now are down to 12 cents apiece.

Club members have invested in a watering system and the operation has been designated as a commercial farm named the Rick and Jan DuBois Community Garden.

According to Boyd, the entire operation costs $10,000 to $11,000 annually, which pays for rent, seeds, minerals, utilities and miscellaneous supplies. The club applied for a district grant to help support the project, in addition to receiving funds from local businesses. Club members continue to search for fundraisers that can support their signature project.

Along with providing for those in need, the club donated three hydroponic towers to the local high school where the agriculture teacher works with the students to supply fresh greens to the cafeteria where they are sold as salads. The money raised supports more gardening projects at the school.

Boyd and club members tell the story of the hydroponic garden through tours for 4-H Club members and master
gardeners, in addition to demonstrating the technology at festivals. Boyd also exhibited the garden at the House of Friendship at the 2022 6910 Rotary District Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, where the club received an award for Best of Show.

Aside from donating his time to Rotary, Boyd recently finished a term as a deacon of the McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in Hiawassee, where he serves on the Safety Team.  He is also an ambassador with the Union County Chamber of Commerce, works as a representative for STG Marketing, and is a “Partner +” with Juice Plus Tower Gardens.

Boyd, his wife, Susan, and their son, Zane, relocated to Hiawassee in 2004. He continued his employment with Panduit and commuted to Cumming for the last 16 years of his employment. Susan was able to work remotely for an Atlanta insurance company until retirement.

“God opened all the doors. We took a faith trip and we saw doors open and close.”

“I always wanted to get involved in the community,” Boyd said. “Rotary does even more than I expected. I love serving and the team effort. Rotary was perfect for how I wanted to contribute. And I’m proud to be part of the ‘fun’ club!”