John W. “Bo” Porter, Jr.
Rotary International District 6860
District Governor, 2002-2003

 Bo first became a Rotarian in 1984 in the Rotary Club of New Orleans.

He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Shades Valley in Birmingham, Alabama since 1987, served as its President in 1992-93 and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He has served District 6860 in many capacities; as Governor’s Group Representative/Assistant District Governor for two terms (1993-1995), as Governor’s Representative in the formation of the Rotary Club of Shades Mountain Sunrise (1994), as District Trainer for twelve years (1993 – 2005), as Deputy District Governor-Operations for three terms (1997-2000), as District Conference Chair for two Conferences (1991 & 1995), and has served on the District Finance committee since 1998. He served two appointments as Annual Giving Fund sub-committee Chair with a net increase in giving each of the three years served and following his term as DG was invited as a panelist for the Zone 29-30 Rotary Foundation Seminar held in 2003 in conjunction with Zone Institute. He additionally lead, for  twelve years, the District’s annual visit to RI headquarters in Evanston, IL. He served on the RI World Affairs Committee 2004-2005 and was the President’s representative to District 6960 in 2005, to District 6940 in 2008, Districts 7680 and 7690 in 2009, District 7750 in 2010, District 6490 in 2012 and District 7020 in 2013. Bo was a training leader for the Zone 29-30 DGNs in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008. He served three years, 2005-2008, as Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator (RRIMC) for Zone 30 and a two year term as Lead Trainer for Mid-South PETS. He served District 6860 as District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair (Coordinator) 2007 – 2010.

He was selected in 2008 to serve as General Chair of Mid-South PETS and continued to serve in that role until 2012. He served as a Training Leader for the 2009 International Assembly in San Diego, CA and Lead Trainer for Zone 30 -31 2009 Governor Nominee training(GNATS). He was D-6860’s elected representative to the 2013 RI Council on Legislation and is currently serving a three year term ( July 2012 – June 2015) on the RI Communications committee. He serves as Vice-chair of that committee for 2013-14.

 Bo, along with his wife Barbara, for eighteen years owned and operated Minuteman Press, a full service printing company, located in Birmingham, AL. He was previously with South Central Bell and A T & T for 20 years.  Most of his career within the Bell System was spent in the Marketing organization with his last assignment being Branch Manager for small business systems in Alabama and Mississippi.

 Service to community does not stop with Rotary.  Bo is Past-President and Chairman of the Birmingham Jaycee Foundation,  Past-president of the Greater New Orleans Executive Association, Past-president of the Five Points South Merchants and Professionals Association, Past Head Coach of the Birmingham Touchdown Club, Past-president of the Alabama Chapter of the American Liver Foundation, Past-secretary of the national Board of Directors of the American Liver Foundation, a former member of the Community Board of Operation New Birmingham and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Transit Authority (MAX).  He and Barbara are active members of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church.

Bo, a native of Birmingham, a 1967 graduate of Samford University with a BS in Business Administration, sold the printing business in 2004 and retired. He and Barbara are both Paul Harris Fellows and Major Donors. They reside in Hoover, AL and have one daughter, Betsy Motsinger (PHF), who, with husband Steve (PHF), granddaughter Anna (PHF)and grandson Evan (PHF), lives in Decatur, AL.