Executive Committee
Gene was born in Pembroke Georgia and grew up on the farm in Laurens County, GA. He graduated from Dublin high school. Gene joined the Navy shortly after high school graduation, became an electronics technician and volunteered for submarine service. He served on board the USS Thornback (SS 418) till he was Honorable Discharged.
After completing his naval service Gene attended Middle Georgia College receiving an AA in Business and then the University of Georgia where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration. He later received his Master of Business Administration with honors from the University of Georgia.
Gene has been a Rotarian since 1984 and has maintained perfect attendance since he joined Rotary. He has served Rotary and many capacities; including Club Classification Chair, Club President, District Membership Director, District Services Director, District Disaster Relief Chair, Assistant District Gov., District Gov. of District 6910 (2010 – 2011) and District 6910 Rotary Leadership Institute District Director. He is currently Peach State PETs Co-Chair and the District 6910 Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART) Chair.
He and his wife, Denise are Major Donor’s to The Rotary Foundation and Bequest Society Members. And he is a GRSP Will Watt Fellow.
He has also served Rotary beyond the district as a member of the Rotary International Director Nominating Committee, a member of the Zone Institute Registration Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of the 2017 International Convention Host Organizing Committee.
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.
Gary was born and reared in Fitzgerald, Georgia where he continues to reside with his wife Sue.
He was graduated from Fitzgerald High School in 1967, Middle Georgia College in 1969, and the University of Georgia in 1971 where he attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Management. Following graduation he began his career in public service with the Ben Hill County Department of Family and Children Services as a caseworker. Gary became Director of the agency in 1986 and worked in that capacity until his retirement in 2003 serving the last 2 years of employment as Director of the Ben Hill and Irwin County agencies.
He was graduated from Fitzgerald High School in 1967, Middle Georgia College in 1969, and the University of Georgia in 1971 where he attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Management. Following graduation he began his career in public service with the Ben Hill County Department of Family and Children Services as a caseworker. Gary became Director of the agency in 1986 and worked in that capacity until his retirement in 2003 serving the last 2 years of employment as Director of the Ben Hill and Irwin County agencies.
Gary’s community activities have included other civic organizations in the past. He has served on the board of Communities in Schools as member and chair and the Fitzgerald Downtown Development Authority as member and chair. He is currently serving his sixth four-year term as an elected member of the Ben Hill County Board of Education where he serves as its chairman. He also served on the Governor Nathan Deal’s Education Advisory Board and the Georgia School Board Rural Education Task Force.
Both Gary and Sue are active in the community being founding members of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Historic Commission and founding members of Fellowship Baptist Church where they each hold various leadership roles and are members of the choir. They are also active in the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.
Gary became involved in the Rotary Club of Fitzgerald in 1996, served on the board of directors for two years, and served as club president in 2005 – 2006. He currently serves as club web-master, project director for the club’s End Meningitis Now campaign and club foundation and grants chair. He is a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow (15) and a Sustaining Member, a Will Watt Fellow and Sustaining Member. Sue is a Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. He and Sue are Rotary Foundation Benefactors, members of the Bequest Society, members of the Paul Harris Society and Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation. He and Sue have honored all of their children and grandchildren with Paul Harris Fellowships. He was the recipient of the Fitzgerald Rotary Club’s Service Above Self Award for 2010 – 2011.
Gary has served District 6920 as an Assistant Governor for the years 2008 – 2011 and District Chair for Benefactor and Bequest Society for 2010 – 2011. He also served as the District’s Future Vision Chair and Annual Programs Fund Chair. He had the pleasure of serving as Governor of District 6920 for 2013 – 2104 during the 100-year anniversary of Rotary in the State of Georgia. He served as the District 6920 representative on the Host Organizing Committee for the 2017 Rotary International Convention in Atlanta; Zone 34 Rotary Has Heart Coordinator; Rotary International Director Advisory Council 2014 – 2016; 2016 – 2018; 2015 Zone Institute Chair of Registration and Information Desk. He currently serves as the District 6920 representative on the P.E.T.S. Executive Committee serving as chair of the committee 2018 – 2020.
Gary enjoys the Arts, listening to music, high school sports, University of Georgia Football, do-it-yourself projects, classic cars, and golf.
Gary and Sue were married in 1975 and have two sons and daughter who are married and four grandchildren.
Appointees
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.
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.
Karl has more than 40 years of experience in both tax and corporate finance consulting services. He is a retired shareholder of Elliott Davis.
Mr. Jordan has actively worked with Rotary for over 25 years. He has held various Club and District positions. He is a member of the Dalton Morning Club, Carpet City Rotary Club.
He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global management accountant.
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 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 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 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 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 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.