Executive Committee
Margie Eddy-Forbes
Co-Chair D6910
Margie was born in Flint, Michigan but moved with her family to Southern California when her Father was offered a position in the aircraft industry rather than staying in the auto industry. She grew up in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles and attended school with what are now known as “celebrities” but to me and my sisters, they were just kids whose parents worked in the entertainment field. Margie graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. She began working for Security Pacific Bank while attending school and for twenty five years thereafter. From bookkeeping to commercial lending she worked through the ranks and left as a Vice President in marketing and business development. She went to work for U.S. Trust Company of California, starting their Private Banking Division as a Senior Vice President and continued with the that division until taking early retirement to move to Georgia. When Margie married Chuck Forbes thirty years ago, she also married two teen-age daughters. Chuck practiced law in Los Angeles for fifty years and then decided he was ready to retire. Their daughters are both teachers in private schools in Southern California, both of their husbands have their own businesses and each family blessed them with two grandsons each. Needless to say, all four are absolutely wonderful, handsome and very smart. Their visits every summer are the highlight of the year for not only the boys but especially the grandparents. Margie became a member of one of the largest Rotary Clubs in Los Angeles in 1993, called L.A. #5. When she joined they had almost over eight hundred members. She left the club when we moved to Georgia and in 2003 she was invited to visit the Greene-Putnam Counties Club. When she realized they had 17 members, she realized that unlike Los Angeles where you could “fly under the radar”, if she joined, she was going to work, so she joined anyway. She became a Board member in 2003-04; Vice President 2004-05; President Elect 2005-06; President 2006-07; Chair of the Twinning Clubs 2007-09; Assistant District Governor, Area VIII, 2008-2011 and District Membership Chair 2010-2012. Margie served on over twenty hospital and charitable organizations in the greater Los Angeles area throughout her banking career and since moving to Georgia continues to serve her community in many ways.
Court Dowis
General Chair D6900
Court Dowis has been a member of the Rotary Club of Harris County since the fall of 2000. He served in almost every club position before becoming the President for the 2007-08 Rotary year. He was presented the Sheffield Award for Leadership. He is also a Paul Harris Fellow, a Paul Harris Society member, Major Donor, Benefactor, and a level 3 Bequest Society member. One of his proudest accomplishments is a continuing service project building handicap ramps for those in need. He has served beyond the club level as well. In addition to serving as District Governor, he has been an Assistant Governor, District Vocational Chair, Foundation Annual Giving Chair and as a PETS facilitator and member of the District Training Team. Currently, he is serving as the AARFC (Assistant Area Rotary Foundation Coordinator) for Zone 34 in Georgia. But he is more than just a Rotarian. He serves his community including time as the Chair of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce, FOCUS, and as a Boy Scout Aviation Eagle instructor. Court and his wife Annette, live on site at their family-owned resort, Pine Mountain Club Chalets located near Callaway Gardens in Pin Mountain, GA. The 65-acre family-friendly resort destination has over 100 chalets/cabins for vacationers. Court is the second generation to serve as President, following his parents, Courson and Gussie Dowis, who started the development 45 years. Ago. Annette and Court have four grown children and five grandchildren that all live nearby. When he isn’t volunteering, handling vacationers or spending time with his family, he enjoys flying airplanes and racing formula sports cars!
Heather Kellen
Co-Chair D6920
Heather holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and has practiced for 17 years holding positions of area director and vice president of operations for outpatient and rehab organizations. She also works as an adjunct professor teaching physical therapy assistants at Central Georgia Technical College. Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Journalism and has worked in Alaska and Washington as a new reporter for newspaper, radio, and television.
She joined the Perry Rotary Club in 2008 and served as Perry Club president in 2014-2015. She has served in club leadership as Community Service Chair & Youth Services Chair. Heather has served District 6920 as Disaster Response Chair, End Polio Ambassador and a Rotary Leadership Institute Facilitator. She has represented Rotary Internationally administering polio vaccines in India, as a member of a Vocational Training Team to Myanmar, and as a participant in Rotary Day at The United Nations.
Heather also commits time and energy to her local community while serving as a member of Toastmasters International, Perry Chamber of Commerce, and Board member of the Perry Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Heather has been recognized as Star President and Club of the Year recognition during her term as Club President. Presented with Rotarian of the Year, Governor’s Leadership Award, and Emerging District Leader. She is a Paul Harris Major Donor, Paul Harris Society member, and Will Watt Fellow.
Heather was born and raised in Washington State and Alaska. She moved to Florida for graduate school and stayed in the South to practice physical therapy in middle Georgia. Heather is the mother of two daughters; Kayla 33, and Lauren 26 and grandmother to four grandchildren; Alta, Jayden, Gwen, Naomi. Heather loves the outdoors and spends much of her free time travelling, hiking, biking, & scuba diving. She is a huge movie buff and roots for the Seattle Seahawks.
Upcoming Committee Meetings
2025 – Feb 28 – Mar 1
1/31/2024 | Hotel
5/1/2024 | Zoom
9/18/2024 | Zoom
2026 – TBA
1/TBD/2025 | Hotel
5/TBD/2025 | Zoom
9/TBD/2025 | Zoom
2027 – TBD
1/TBD/2026 | Hotel
5/TBD/2026 | Zoom
9/TBD/2026 | Zoom
Appointees
Cheryl Greenway
Treasurer
Cheryl joined the Roswell Rotary Club in 1994 and served as President for the 2005-2006 Rotary year. Prior to serving as President of the club, she held the officer positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and President Elect.
Carol Stallings
Onsite Registration
Raymond Ray
Secretary
Margie Kersey
Trainer
Rotary is a huge part of Margie’s life. She joined Rotary as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Lake Spivey on February 16, 1998 and served as President in 1999-2000. She joined the Rotary Club of Stone Mountain July 2006 where she served as President in 2016-17. She is a Major Donor, Bequest Society member and is very honored to have been named District Rotarian of the Year in 2008. Margie has been active serving at the District level, where she served as District Governor in 2011-12 and as the District Rotary Foundation Chair from 2016-2019. Margie has served as District Trainer for two Governors and as the representative to the Council on Legislation 2016-2019. Outside of the district, Margie served as President of The CART Fund (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust) 2015-17. She is a graduate of Rotary Leadership Institute and serves as a Discussion Leader and is the past Curriculum Director. She is honored to serve as the Chairman of RLI Sunshine Division for 2019-2021.
Margie is self-employed with her husband, Ron Kersey, as financial and estate planners. They specialize in working with owners of timberland. Prior to heading out on her own, she spent 20 years in retail including 10 at Toys R Us as an operations Director. Training was a big part of her job and soon after leaving Toys, she went to work with Dale Carnegie Training traveling most of South Georgia. She has also worked as a trainer for the Calvin Center in Hampton, GA providing leadership and teamwork challenges in an “Outward Bound” type program.
Ron and Margie live in Lawrenceville, Georgia where they attend wine tastings whenever they can.
Margie is self-employed with her husband, Ron Kersey, as financial and estate planners. They specialize in working with owners of timberland. Prior to heading out on her own, she spent 20 years in retail including 10 at Toys R Us as an operations Director. Training was a big part of her job and soon after leaving Toys, she went to work with Dale Carnegie Training traveling most of South Georgia. She has also worked as a trainer for the Calvin Center in Hampton, GA providing leadership and teamwork challenges in an “Outward Bound” type program.
Ron and Margie live in Lawrenceville, Georgia where they attend wine tastings whenever they can.
Elwyn Gaissert II
Sergeant at Arms
Elwyn was raised in Roswell, GA attending kindergarten, elementary and high school in the Fulton County public schools. After graduating in 1969 from the University of Georgia with a BBA Degree, Elwyn entered the Navy and became a Naval Aviator. Departing the Navy after two tours, Elwyn worked for a surgical instrument manufacture as a technical rep and a product manager. But the call to the skies was too great so in May, 1978 he joined Southern Airways as a pilot. Three mergers, one leveraged buyout, and one bankruptcy he was bloody, but still standing. Retiring in December 2006 as a Captain from Northwest Airlines, Elwyn devoted more of his time to his wife, Lynne, The First Baptist Church of Roswell where he is a Deacon, and Rotary. Elwyn, a second generation Rotarian, brings 38 years of Rotary Service and experience to the Rotary Club of Roswell. He has served on numerous committees as member, co-chair and chairman. Elwyn has served as Director in all avenues of service, and then rotated through the chairs from Secretary to President. As President (2009-2010) of the 260 member Roswell Rotary Club, Elwyn led the club to Best Club recognition for Category 4 (large club) and was recognized individually with the District 6900 Sheffield Leadership Award. Elwyn and his wife Lynne are Rotary Foundation Major Donors, Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society and Will Watt Fellow for the Georgia Rotary Student Program.
Elwyn served District 6900 as an Assistant Governor 2011-2014, being recognized with the “Follow Me” Award for 2013-2014, served on numerous district conference committees and co-chairing the 2014 district conference, served on the Rotary International 2017 Convention Executive Committee, and served as the Rotary Leadership Institute Director for D6900 during 2016-2019.
Elwyn and Lynne have been married for 48 years and they have two grown daughters living with their families in the Atlanta/North Georgia area with two grandsons and three Fur Grand Dogs.
Elwyn served District 6900 as an Assistant Governor 2011-2014, being recognized with the “Follow Me” Award for 2013-2014, served on numerous district conference committees and co-chairing the 2014 district conference, served on the Rotary International 2017 Convention Executive Committee, and served as the Rotary Leadership Institute Director for D6900 during 2016-2019.
Elwyn and Lynne have been married for 48 years and they have two grown daughters living with their families in the Atlanta/North Georgia area with two grandsons and three Fur Grand Dogs.
Don Martin
Webmaster/Technical Support
Don Martin joined the Rotary Club of Jasper in January of 2007 and served as President for the 2011-2012 Rotary Year. At the District Level, Don served on the Technology Team from 2012 to 2017 and as the AV Chair from 2013-2017. He served on the Board of Directors from 2014-2016 and as the Assistant Governor for Area 16 from 2016 -2018. Don is a Rotary Leadership Institute Discussion Leader and has served as the Faculty Chair and District Director. Don served as District Governor in 2019-2020 and in 2020-2021 serves as Webmaster for Peach State PETS and as the Online Technology Chair for the RLI Sunshine Division. He will serve as the 6910 District Trainer in 2022-2023.
Don is a native of Memphis, TN and holds degrees from the University of Memphis, Georgia State and Mercer. Don is currently an Associate Broker specializing in residential real estate with 515 Life Real Estate Company, LLC. Don served 28 years of Active & Reserve duty with the United States Army before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1998. His terminal assignment was as the Chief of the Transportation and Services Division, G-4, Headquarters, United States Army Reserve Command at Fort McPherson. Following his retirement, Don was a Project Manager for the Anteon Corporation until 2006.
Don is a longtime member of the National Defense Transportation Association, serving as President of the Atlanta Chapter, State Vice President and Southeastern Vice President. Don is a life member of the Reserve Officer’s Association and the Military Order of World Wars.
In the Jasper area, Don served on the Board of Directors for the Pickens County Chamber and Chair of the Business Council. Don is a past President of the Pickens County Board of Realtors and has served on several local charity Boards including the Hope House, The Tater Patch Players, Jasper Muse, the Jasper Community Action Team of the FERST Foundation and the Bent Tree Foundation. Don’s wife, Regina, is a retired educator and, seemingly, a full-time long arm quilter. Regina is also a Rotarian and a Past President of the Rotary Club of Jasper. Both Don and Regina are GRSP Will Watt Fellows as well as Paul Harris Fellows, Paul Harris Society Members and Major Donors of the Rotary Foundation.
Don and Regina are both Elders and Choir Members at the Fellowship Presbyterian Church, which is where they first met in 1994. When time permits, they love antiquing, wine tastings, travelling in their motorhome and, of course, all things Rotary.
Don is a native of Memphis, TN and holds degrees from the University of Memphis, Georgia State and Mercer. Don is currently an Associate Broker specializing in residential real estate with 515 Life Real Estate Company, LLC. Don served 28 years of Active & Reserve duty with the United States Army before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1998. His terminal assignment was as the Chief of the Transportation and Services Division, G-4, Headquarters, United States Army Reserve Command at Fort McPherson. Following his retirement, Don was a Project Manager for the Anteon Corporation until 2006.
Don is a longtime member of the National Defense Transportation Association, serving as President of the Atlanta Chapter, State Vice President and Southeastern Vice President. Don is a life member of the Reserve Officer’s Association and the Military Order of World Wars.
In the Jasper area, Don served on the Board of Directors for the Pickens County Chamber and Chair of the Business Council. Don is a past President of the Pickens County Board of Realtors and has served on several local charity Boards including the Hope House, The Tater Patch Players, Jasper Muse, the Jasper Community Action Team of the FERST Foundation and the Bent Tree Foundation. Don’s wife, Regina, is a retired educator and, seemingly, a full-time long arm quilter. Regina is also a Rotarian and a Past President of the Rotary Club of Jasper. Both Don and Regina are GRSP Will Watt Fellows as well as Paul Harris Fellows, Paul Harris Society Members and Major Donors of the Rotary Foundation.
Don and Regina are both Elders and Choir Members at the Fellowship Presbyterian Church, which is where they first met in 1994. When time permits, they love antiquing, wine tastings, travelling in their motorhome and, of course, all things Rotary.