JANET JOHNSTON - President

I was born in Toronto, Canada, however my family moved to Los Angeles, California when I was 4 years old and I grew up there. I moved with my family to Roseburg in 1973 and have enjoyed living in this beautiful area since then. I worked at Douglas Community Hospital and Wildlife Safari before getting my real estate license.

My full-time career field has been as a Real Estate Broker in Douglas County since 1979. This has afforded me the opportunity to meet many people relocating and living in Roseburg, and to give them the opportunity of participating in our Delegations to Japan or Hosting Delegates from Japan. I’m now semi-retired and working on referring prior customers to an Associate Broker in my office at ReMax Integrity

I first joined Roseburg Sister Cities in 1994 and Hosted two Delegates from Shobu who were with the first Delegation to do Home Stays. I then went to Shobu with the 1995 Delegation. Since approximately 1996, I have remained actively involved with the Association by organizing and setting up training sessions for the Host Families, as well as participating in an additional 12 trips to Japan with our Delegations. I was elected to the Board of Directors in 2007 and have served as Vice President for about 10 years, except for 2008, 2009 and 2010 when I served as President and 2021 to present as President.

I believe I have gained more than I have received by having the opportunity to participate in this unique cultural experience and to make many long-time friends in Japan. I now consider it my 2nd home! It has been gratifying to promote and grow this program, especially when I hear the positive comments from those who have Hosted and/or visited Japan with our program express that it has been one of their most memorable experiences! I look forward to introducing many others to enriching their lives through the wonderful opportunities available with the Roseburg Sister Cities Exchange program!

ROSEMARIE WESS - Secretary

Rosemarie and her husband Jim have lived in Oregon since 1999. Rosemarie retired from local government service in 2019 and continues to enjoy the several non-profit organizations with which she is currently involved including Roseburg Sister Cities, Inc. Visiting Japan has always been on her “bucket list” and, she is very much looking forward to joining the next delegation to that part of the world.

DEBBIE FIELDS - Treasurer

Debbie Fields is a native of Glide and has lived in the area since her birth (excluding 4 years as a military wife in Mountain Home, Idaho). Debbie served the Federal Government for 35 years, retiring in 2017 from the Umpqua National Forest. She has three children and 7 grandchildren. Debbie is also a Docent at the Wildlife Safari.

She started her journey with Roseburg Sister Cities when she became a member in 2011. In 2012 she was elected to the Board of Directors where she has served ever since. She has been Secretary for several years and is now serving as Treasurer for the organization. She has also travelled to Japan once with the Delegation and plans to return soon.

MAUREEN WILLIAMS - Vice President

Maureen and her husband Dave have been residents of Roseburg since 1998. She taught Special Education, Title One, and regular Fourth Grade in various schools. Since trips to Japan were in October, she was unable to travel until she retired and they traveled to Japan as delegates in 2017. They enjoyed it immensely and look forward to continuing the connection.

MARLIENE SWANSON - Board Member

Born and raised in Oregon, I am a true “Webfoot” and a retired elementary school teacher. I graduated from SOC (SOCU). I moved to Roseburg after marrying Harold Winfield in 1962. Our two sons were born in Roseburg and graduated from Roseburg High School. They are both retired and have traveled to Japan.

While teaching at Joseph Lane Jr. High School, Harold’s students began a pen pal relationship with middle school students in Isao Hattori’s class in Shobu Japan. After a time, Harold wrote to Isao san suggesting they begin a student exchange. After several months silence we received a letter saying “Great idea! When are you coming?” In 1987 Harold and I escorted 13 Joseph Lane students to Shobu and thus the Student Exchange program began. Four years later the adult exchange was added and Roseburg Sister Cities was formed.

Since that time, I have traveled to Japan a number of times and have been an active RSC member in many roles and projects in both the student and adult programs.

Harold passed away suddenly in 2000. In 2005 I married Art Swanson who passed away in 2022. Roseburg Sister Cities continues to be an important part of my life.

JOANIE CHAMBERS - Board Member

Joanie, her husband and three sons moved to Roseburg in 1969 from Tillamook. Here in Roseburg Joanie has enjoyed participating in PTA, Garden Club, New Comers Club, Art Association, Cub Scout Den Mother, raising money for Easter Seals, and working with students at the Fullerton 4 special reading program. She has been honored by the Chamber of Commerce and selected as Volunteer of the Month. She is now retired from being a District Supervisor of a hair salon business. She has been involved with the Roseburg Sister Cities for about twenty years.

CHARLOTTE CARTER - Board Member

Charlotte has lived in Roseburg for 52 years. She worked full-time for the VA Medical Center in Roseburg for 37 ½ years as a Personnel Management Specialist. She also served as the Regional Manager for the Pacific Northwest for both training and EEO and several National programs allowing her to travel all over the US. While working full-time for the Government, she taught at UCC for over 10 years and was Vice President of a Training Consultant Group for about 10 years, becoming an International Trainer presenting programs in British Columbia. Her hobbies besides traveling are chocolate candy making, gardening, and reading, with a long bucket-list of places still to visit and enjoy. She loved her trip to Japan in 2019. It was a trip of a lifetime with wonderful memories, and she still communicates regularly with her host family. She looks forward to learning more about our interactions with Kuki City and our Japanese friends.

STEVE ERICKSON - Board Member

Steve has served as the Director of the Roseburg-Shobu Middle School Exchange Program traveling to Japan in 2005 with twenty-four students and hosting the following year in Roseburg. Having a longstanding interest in Japan and Asia, Steve previously lived in Japan where he studied Zen and Japanese carpentry.
After a career as a counselor with Legal Aid Services of Oregon and a hiking instructor with Umpqua Community College, Steve currently spends his time playing with a local Celtic band, studying with the Douglas County master gardener program, practicing Qigong daily (a form of Tai chi and often referred to as Chinese yoga), and enjoys culinary arts as well as being grounded in and enjoying/conserving the natural world. Steve has been a member of RSC since 2010.

CHRIS MILLER - Board Member

Originally hailing from Ogden, Utah, Chris Miller's lifelong passion for food and hospitality was deeply rooted in his family's experiences. His grandfather, Ken, a civil engineer for the US Air Force, spent years in Okinawa, Japan, where Chris's father, Mark, attended high school at Kubasaki High. From an early age, they instilled in Chris an appreciation for fine foods and diverse cultures, fostering a particular interest in all things Japanese. Excelling in Japanese language lessons in high school, Chris's journey took a culinary turn after graduating from the Le Cordon Bleu Portland campus.

As fate would have it, Chris embarked on a transformative experience while transitioning to a position with the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Resort in Saipan, CNMI, which included a memorable visit to Tokyo. During his tenure, he cultivated a profound appreciation for Japanese Sake under the guidance of his friend and mentor, Seiji Shindo. A whirlwind tour of Asia ensued, and Chris seized the opportunity to apprentice as a sushi chef in his native Utah, solidifying his understanding and appreciation for Japanese cuisine and culture.

Inspired by his grandmother, J. Lynn Peterson, a local watercolor artist and RSC delegate member to Japan, Chris felt compelled to join the Roseburg Sister Cities program. Currently serving as the Manager of The Secret Wine Society in Oakland, Oregon, Chris leverages his wealth of knowledge to share insights on food, wine, Japanese Sake, and the local area with visitors. Residing in Melrose, Oregon, just outside of Roseburg with his family, Chris aspires to foster enthusiasm for Japanese culture, strengthen existing bonds, and forge new friendships with the community in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

ERIC FULLERTON - Student Exchange Program Coordinator

Eric grew up in the Roseburg / Glide areas and has a passion for growing and developing programs which impact student growth. He has been teaching at Melrose Elementary School as the Developmental Learning Specialist - Special Education since 2015. He also was a student participant in the 2003 Student Exchange Program between Roseburg, OR and Shobu, Japan.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS