President (2013)
Margie Shea is Education Program Specialist and Volunteer Coordinator at the Tacoma Nature Center. An inspirational leader with boundless energy Margie joined the Audubon movement after moving from Wisconsin and working for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. She is a spirited environmental educator, trainer, science teacher and volunteer coordinator. She loves Photography and throwing parties.
Vice President (2011)
Darby Veeck is an active runner, biker, swimmer, backpacker, cross country skier and bird-watcher. He has volunteered with several organizations in western Washington concerned with environmental issues such as land use, local food, alternative energy, sustainability, habitat protection, and cleanup. Darby’s college education began with Physics, and continued in Environmental Engineering where he was disappointed that there was too much ‘Engineering’ and not enough 'Environmental'. Currently Darby works for the Department of Ecology in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Secretary (2013)
Jane Brosius works for Social Security Administration and has served on the Tacoma Community House board. She has experience in retail and managed an office for a counseling service. Jane is a firm advocate for environmental protection. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, walking, taking short hikes and singing in the choir.
Treasurer (2011)
Kathleen Nelson is the National Manager of Information Technology of Advanced Clinical Systems, with the Franciscan Health care Systems in Tacoma. Kathleen loves reading and volunteers her time in local community events, and has a special place in volunteering for Harmony Hill, a cancer retreat. She loves spending time with her four grandsons and five children. She is learning about Washington State conservation efforts. "I realize how important it is to teach children about nature, since I attended my grandson's birthday party at Snake Lake. We have so much to pass on our legacy to the next generation as Thelma Gilmur and Helen Engle have done before us. These women are great role models for my life. I love being part of Audubon."
Member (2010)
Dick Carkner is owner of Terry's Berries Organic Farm in Puyallup. A strong advocate of a local farm community he is a leader in the effort to protect Farm land in Pierce County. Past President of the Pierce County Farm Advisory Commission, he is currently a County Planning Commission Member. His CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a model for other in the community.
Member (2011)
Ione Clagett is passionate about doing her part to save the environment around us. She has served as project director for Citizens for a Healthy Bay and has been part of a community team effort to maintain wildlife habitat along Clover Creek. She is currently active as a Cascade Land Conservancy community trustee and a member and vice-chair of the Chambers-Clover Watershed Council.
Member (2013)
John Garner is conservation and education coordinator at Metro Parks Tacoma. He is a leader in the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance, the Izaak Walton League, and a former member of the Rotary #8 Preserve Planet Earth Committee. John has been a true leader of Tahoma Audubon in a variety of ways, including our first interim executive director, a partner through the Tacoma Nature Center, member of the Development Committee.
Member
Thelma Gilmur is a founding member. A retired schoolteacher, she has taught generations of Pierce county residents about the wonders of nature. Recipient of the Cascade Land Conservancy Helen Engle Lifetime Achievement Award she belongs to many groups that include in part: Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy, Wilderness Society, Washington Environmental Council, Washington Arboretum Society, and Washington Environmental Educators Association.
Member (2012)
Charles Griffin spends his time being a good steward of the land and advocating for natural habitats. He is an active member of the Lakewood United Methodist Church and has served as president of the Men’s Club. Charles is retired from the military and The Boeing Company and has two children and two grandsons.
Melissa Paulson attended Pacific Lutheran University where she developed a deep interest in habitat conservation and natural resource management. Melissa enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, gardening, learning about birds and participating in various musical groups, including the Bremerton Symphony Chorale where she serves as the chorale accompanist. Melissa currently works for Pierce County Water Programs with the watershed councils and local salmon recovery efforts. She is convinced that collaboration and education are essential to making both good policy and good strides toward a better environment.
Peggy Kopf is a graduate of Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing, the University of Washington, and University of Minnesota. Peggy worked for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for many years. She served as a public health nurse, health educator, and health planner. Peggy also served as Director of the Pierce County Health Council and worked as the Staff Educator for the Rockville Nursing Home in Maryland. Peggy has been active in professional organizations and has an abiding interest in preservation and appreciation of our environment.
Tanja Scott is a first grade teacher in Bethel School District at Elk Plain School of Choice. She is a volunteer at Three Cedars Hospice for men living with HIV/AIDS, and a client advocate in a hospice for women living with AIDS/HIV. A volunteer staff writer for five summers through the Red Cross at Madigan Army Medical Center she has made presentations on general bird knowledge on behalf of Tahoma Audubon for Boy Scouts. She has an interest in bringing birding and involvement in environmental issues to younger Washingtonians.
Dan Sherman is a professor at the University of Puget Sound who has done a tremendous job of linking his students and their academic studies to the real world here in Pierce County. He has collaborated with Tahoma Audubon and other local environmental groups. He was one of the founders of the Green Tacoma partnership and recipient of the first Green Tacoma Partnership recognition Award. Dan teaches courses in U.S. environmental politics and policy including Applied Environmental Politics & Agenda Setting, Forest Policy in the Pacific Northwest, and Environmental Decision Making, as well as Environment and Society and Senior Seminar. Dan is a full member both the Department of Politics and Government and the Environmental Policy and Decision Making Program.
Bill Smith is Senior Environmental Specialist for the City of Tacoma’s Solid Waste Division where he works on the City’s efforts in sustainability, green building and product stewardship. He initiated the residential demonstration project at the landfill called the EnviroHouse. He also completed the City’s carbon footprint and helped to develop the City’s climate action plan.