The Georgia Multi-District PETS began its organizational life in March 2002 after a visit was made to Carolina PETS which was already a multi-district training event.  Following intensive planning and organization the first Georgia Multi-district PETS was held in Macon the following year.  In 2005 the name was changed to Peach State PETS.  The Event was held in Macon for two years, but its growth led to five years in Peachtree City and onto its present location in Atlanta in 2010.

It is the Mission of Peach State PETS for Rotary Districts 6900, 6910, and 6920 “to provide appropriate, comprehensive, and professional Rotary leadership training for the individual club Presidents Elect and club Presidents Nominee to prepare them for their role as President in the respective districts through an organized training venue which shall include exposure to leaders on the international level and shall be performed in an atmosphere of fun, fellowship, and inspiration.”

The Peach State PETS organization is administered by volunteers of the three Georgia Rotary Districts that include the District Governor, Governor Elect, Governor Nominee, And Governor Nominee Designate and their respective trainers.  The day-to-day coordination of Peach State PETS is the responsibility of the Executive Committee that consists of a General Chair and 2 Co-Chairs who each represent and are respectively selected by their district.  Other members of the PETS Operating Committee include committee appointments of Secretary, Treasurer, Curriculum Chair, Registrar, Evaluator, Web Master, and Sergeant-at-arms chair.  All members serve at the pleasure of their district or the committee without pay.

Since its inception, Peach State PETS has become a premier and respected training organization in the world of Rotary.  Peach State PETS is a member of the Multi- District PETS Alliance.  The Multi-District PETS Alliance is an international membership consortium of the leadership of the multi-district presidents-elect training seminars. Founded in 1992, the primary objective of the Alliance is sharing best practices for training event planning and implementation.  Through the sharing of our successes and failures, each Multi-District PETS event has the opportunity to improve the quality of training for Presidents-elect — Rotary’s future leaders.  There are currently 26 Multi-District PETS organizations in the consortium.

Co-Chair

2003 Jim Puryear, 6920

2004 Jim Puryear, 6920

2005 Bill MacDonald, 6900

2006 Tom Kent, 6900

2007 Claudia Mertl, 6900

2008 Claudia Mertl, 6900

2009 Dallas Simon, 6920

2010 Kenan Kern, 6920

2011 Kenan Kern 6920

2012 Kenan Kern 6920

2013 Rich Panyik 6910

2014 Claudia Mertl 6900

2015 Lloyd Horadan 6920

2016 Gary Smith 6920

2017 Gary Smith 6920

2018Gary Smith 6920

2019 Margie Eddy-Forbes 6910

2020 Gene Windham 6910

2021 Gary Smith 6920

2022 Gary Smith 6920

2023 Gary Smith 6920

History of Peach State PETS Meeting Locations:

2004                   Various Hotels – Meetings held at Macon Convention Center – Macon

2005 – 09           Wyndham Hotel and Conference Center -Peachtree City

2010 – present     Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel- Atlanta