Sheri Lynn Baxter, Candidate for Board of DirectorsJanna Stewart, one of our newest and most active board members, was forced to resign due to family and personal health challenges. An attorney by profession, she started the process towards gaining our 501( c ) 3 status, and could be counted on for anything from stuffing envelopes for action alerts to deliberating issues, and always with a smile. We appreciate her help and guidance and wish her all the best.
We are fortunate enough to have two volunteers step forward to run for the vacant seat on the Board. Please consider the biographies of the following two candidates and vote for only one. Votes must be received no later than March 10th, 1997 and can be e-mailed to FOMR via the link on the Home Page.
Sheri Lynn Baxter, Candidate for Board of Directors
Even though I have only been a resident of Alaska for a short time, I am quite aware of many of the state's issues. Before moving to Anchorage, I found myself becoming increasingly more involved with several environmental groups and topics involving Alaska. While still back home in southern California, I was constantly writing letters, making phone calls and helping to spread awareness on issues such as: the Magnuson Act, predator control plans, the Tongass, and, of course, the McNeil River bears! When I wanted to do more than my geographical location would allow, I knew that moving to Alaska was the next logical step in my environmental endeavors.
Being involved in my community has always been a predominant part of my life, as my mother stimulated my "addiction to volunteering" at a very early age. I have more than 20 years background working in numerous community and non-profit organizations. During the past 10 years, I obtained extensive experience with these groups in the planning and coordination of fund raisers and special events, program management, volunteer development, and education and leadership in youth programs and schools. I earned a B.A. in Social Ecology, a B.S. in Biology and finished a year of postgraduate work in Psychology. I look forward to becoming active with Friends of McNeil River and hope that, if nominated to the Board of Directors, I will be able to use my background to help FOMR and the McNeil River bears.
Harold C. Nathan, Candidate for Board of Directors:
Currently I am a portfolio manager working in San Francisco at a firm that manages $4 billion in stocks and bonds. My work is challenging and rewarding, but my heart is elsewhere. I was raised in the foothills of central California and have always felt more at home in the country than in the city. My heart remains in the country, and more specifically in nature. One of my trips last year took me to the Brooks River to view brown bears. I felt a home again. On that trip I was with Leo & Dorothy Keeler and Valerie Snook, thus my connection to the Friends of McNeil River.
Beyond my excitement and interest in preserving the brown bears in Alaska, I believe I could bring some useful expertise to the Board of Friends. I have served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations in this area as well as being a member of various environmental organizations. My experience with nonprofits as well as my background in economics and finance, I believe, would be useful to your organization.
Beyond my belief that I would be an excellent addition to the Board, my participation would connect me more solidly to a part of the world and nature that I love very much. If I become a member of the Board, I would be willing to give generously of my time, experience and other resources to further the efforts of the Friends of McNeil River.