Octobeer 2008
FMCA’s Executive Board is made up of four nationally elected officers “” the national president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer “” and the 10 national area vice presidents, who are elected by their respective areas. (The immediate past national president also serves as a non-voting member.)
As a result of changes in the FMCA Bylaws that instituted two-year terms, five of the 10 areas hold national vice president elections in odd-numbered years, and the other five areas hold elections in even-numbered years.
Following are abbreviated resumes for the national vice presidents recently elected or re-elected.
Ross Boyer, F268985
Great Lakes Area
Ross and his wife, Melanie, joined FMCA in 1999. Ross has been re-elected for a second two-year term as national vice president, Great Lakes Area. He and Melanie are members of the Coaches for Christ, Hoosier Cruisers, and Michigan Knights of the Highway chapters in the Great Lakes Area and the Cat RV Club, Freightliner Chassis Owners Club, and Harney Coach Wranglers in the International Area. Ross served as alternate national director for the Harney Coach Wranglers in the couple’s first year of membership and the next year became their national director. The Boyers served as assistant rally masters for one Hoosier Cruisers rally in 2000 and were rally masters for one or two rallies each year until Ross was elected to serve as national vice president, Great Lakes Area.
For the past five years, Melanie has been the newsletter editor for the Hoosier Cruisers and is currently their alternate national director. During that same five years, Ross held the offices of central area vice president and senior vice president for the Hoosier Cruisers and chapter national director, and he chaired their Bylaws Committee. Melanie also serves as newsletter editor for the Great Lakes Area MotorCoach Association Inc. (GLAMA) and continues to assist Ross.
In 2005, Ross served as chairman of the Bylaws Committee for GLAMA. Ross served as chairman of FMCA’s Policy and Procedure Committee for 2007-2008 and is chairing that committee again for 2008-2009. Ross also is serving on the Convention Committee for 2008-2009.
Ross has been active in the Boy Scouts of America for 52 years. During this time he has held many volunteer positions, among them Scoutmaster for several adult leader training courses, District Commissioner, and District Committee Chairman. He received several recognitions for volunteer service, which included Training Key, Commissioner Key, District Award of Merit, and Silver Beaver, the highest award a Council may award to recognize a volunteer. In addition, he has been a trustee and chairman of the board at the church they attend and chaired the Bylaws Committee and Stewardship Committee. Currently, Ross serves as treasurer for the Happy Trails Sawmill Club, where he enjoys his woodworking hobby of creating furniture. Ross also has been a member of the Building, Grounds and Maintenance Committee and chairman of the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions & Policy and Procedures Review Committee for the HOMCO Association of 2000 residential lots at Happy Trails Resort in Surprise, Arizona, in the winter.
Ross has a bachelor of science degree with a major in physics and extensive post-graduate courses in computer science and business management.
Bobby Donald, F107800
Western Area
Bobby joined FMCA in 1988, and he and his wife, Gloria, belong to several chapters. Bobby served as president of the Venturians and Beat the Odds chapters and was alternate national director for the Komfort Kruisers. Prior to being elected as national vice president, Western Area, he served as the area’s senior vice president and also served as rally master for the Western Area Rally in Indio, California. Before that, he served as central area vice president, overseeing some 13 captains. In addition, he has worked at the FMCA booth at RVIA’s California RV Show in Pomona seven times. He also served on the biergarten crew at the California Chapter Oktoberfest for several years.
Nationally, he served on the President’s Council for three years, and for about 14 years he volunteered on the parking layout crew, drove handicap trams, and worked the information booth at FMCA conventions. Bobby is serving on the Membership/Member Services Committee for 2008-2009.
Bobby spent some 38 years working for NASA and Public Works in the U.S. Navy. His community involvement included serving as commander of U.S. Naval SEA Cadets and umpire for Miss Softball America.
Bobby has associate of science degrees in engineering and business management. He served as a campground host for five years. He enjoys fishing, bowling, and, of course, FMCA conventions, area rallies, and chapter events.
He and Gloria have recruited some 90 FMCA members. They have been active volunteers on the national, area, and chapter level.
Harry “Sonny” Gillespie, F192819
International Area
Sonny and his wife, Carole, joined FMCA in 1995. They attended their first international convention that same year and have not missed one since. At the conventions, Sonny has worked as chief of security, security captain, and security crew leader, and as a volunteer in the areas of trams, handicapped trams, coffee hour, greeters, and the ice cream social. Sonny is serving as a member of the Convention Committee for 2008-2009.
Prior to being elected as national vice president, International Area, Sonny served a two-year term as senior vice president of the International Area Organization (INTO) and as a member of the INTO Budget Committee. He was elected to the INTO Nominating Committee twice and served as chairman once. He has served as the assistant rally master for the past three INTO rallies. While attending seven of the eight INTO rallies, he served as captain of security and volunteered in the areas of trams, food service, and utilities. He also has attended approximately 26 other area rallies and has been captain of security at the Western Area Rally.
Sonny and Carole belong to 10 chapters and are charter members of three. As a member of Elk International, Sonny served two years each as president, vice president, national director, and alternate national director. He also was national director and alternate national director for the Wandering Winnies, and he was elected to the Nominating Committee of Elk International, Wandering Winnies, and Achievers International. He has been a wagon master and a volunteer at numerous chapter rallies over the past 13 years.
Sonny and Carole have two children and two grandchildren. Their daughter Laurie is also a member of FMCA. The Gillespies have worked within their community by serving meals at Christmas to the handicapped and helping to raise funds for cancer research. As their children were growing up, they were registered as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and spent time helping their kids’ troops. Sonny currently belongs to Elks Lodge #1740 in Hemet, California. He and Carole celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past February.
Sonny graduated from Fullerton College, received his lifetime teaching credentials for California from UCLA, and has taught classes at both the college and high school levels. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves and did active duty in the Army attending jump and ranger school “” a total of eight years. He was a non-commissioned officer at the time of his discharge. He worked for the California Highway Patrol for 33 years and served on the Presidential Protection Detail for 10 of those years. He retired as a supervising senior officer.
Judy Keppler, F283131
Northwest Area
Judy and her husband, Ron, joined FMCA in 2000. Prior to being elected to a two-year term as national vice president, Northwest Area, Judy served as Northwest Area secretary, starting in 2003. Judy served on the FMCA Education Committee for the 2007-2008 term, and she is serving on the Membership/Member Services Committee for 2008-2009. She acted as volunteer coordinator for the FMCA international conventions in Redmond, Oregon, in 2004 and 2007, and she served as volunteer security captain during the Minot convention in 2005. She was national director of the Lewis & Clark TT chapter in 2007-2008 and served as alternate national director for the chapter from 2005 to 2007. She served as assistant rally master for the Northwest Area rallies in 2006 and 2008 and also as decoration cochair in 2006. She also worked as the Northwest Area representative for chapter visitations and chapter formation. She served as a membership recruiter at the FMCA booth at the Portland RV Show and the Salem RV Show.
Judy retired from the Beaverton School District in Oregon after 34 years of service. She worked as a personnel specialist in the school district for 15 years, and as a school principal’s secretary/office manager for 13 years. She has continued to serve the district as a personnel specialist on a casual basis since 2004.
Judy attended Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, Washington, and then completed managerial, leadership, and supervisory training at Portland Community College. She holds Portland State University human resources comprehensive certifications, Portland State University secretarial and office management certifications, and she received the Beaverton School District “Golden Apple” award for outstanding service.
Judy loves to read, quilt, sew, and travel. She and Ron have been married 49 years and have two grown children and two “grand teens.”
Otho Tew, F152425
Eastern Area
Otho and his wife, Alice, joined FMCA in February 1992. Shortly afterward they became members of the Coastal Tarheels chapter. Otho served as chapter vice president for two years, president for three years, and alternate national director for two years. They also are members of the Freightliner Chassis Owners Club, Eastern Area Geoc0achers, and Tennessee Primetimers chapters. They have hosted and/or cohosted rallies every year from 1992 through 2008.
Prior to being elected as national vice president, Eastern Area, Otho served as the senior vice president for the Eastern Area Motorhome Association (EAMA) and assisted the area vice president with financial planning and all aspects of the Great Eastern Area Rally (GEAR). Otho served as rally master for GEAR this past June.
Otho and Alice also worked as security volunteers at GEAR for several years. Otho served as chairman of coffee and doughnuts for four years, as well as chairman of display coaches for three years and cochairman for one year.
Otho has served on various committees, including nominating committees for the Eastern Area Volunteer chapter and the Eastern Area Motorhome Association. He was elected in January 2004 to the Eastern Area Motorhome Association Executive Board as southern regional vice president and served until May 2007.
In 2006 Otho served as the volunteer coordinator for FMCA’s 76th International Convention in Charlotte/Concord, North Carolina. He is serving on FMCA’s Membership/Member Services Committee for 2008-2009.
Otho served 20 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in June 1974. His duties involved aircraft and missile electronics. He served most of that time as a shop supervisor but also spent several years in quality control. He attended numerous technical and supervisory schools. After retirement from the Air Force, Otho worked 15 years as an electrician-instrument repairman for Kelly-Springfield Tire Company in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He studied for and received his captain’s license from the U.S. Coast Guard. He and Alice operated their deep-sea charter fishing business for nine years.
Otho and Alice are native North Carolinians. They have been married more than 54 years and have four children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. They are members of Brunswick Islands Baptist Church, where Otho has served as deacon, training director, Sunday school teacher, and leader of the hospital visitation ministry. Since purchasing their first motorhome in late 1991, they have visited every U.S. state, as well as Mexico and Canada. Otho enjoys golf and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) basketball.