If you are interested in becoming a Board Member we are interested in hearing from you. Questions can be directed to Dave Cort at 415-488-8888 ext. (# 224) or email him at director@sgvcc.org. You can download our short questionnaire, fill it out, and send it in also. Click here to down load questionnaire.

Click here to view the individual committees the board over sees.

Officers:
Anne McClain , President
Marian Cremin, Vice President
Helen Ferlino,Treasurer
Barbara Brauer, Secretary

Click on Board member's names for bio's.
Members:
Debra Amerson
Christin Anderson
Grifin Anderson
John Beckerley
John Carroll
Janelle Fazackerley
Lila Friday
Alexander McQuilkin
Jean Berensmeier, Founder

Anne McClain grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She moved to the San Geronimo Valley in 1976 after graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Drawing, Painting and Crafts along with a minor in Art History. She was drawn to the Valley by its natural beauty and by the strong feeling of community. That feeling was exemplified by the little Spanish-style building right in the heart of the Valley, the Community Center.
Currently, she wears many hats as mother to Alexandra and Ariana, artist, building designer and along with her husband, Skag Dukkers, as a rental property owner and manager. Until her daughters graduated from the Lagunitas School District she was also an active volunteer in the Open Classroom and the Middle School and has served on various school committees.   After many years of participating in the Center’s Spring Art Show and getting to know the community through the school the time was right to get more involved in the Community Center and our wonderful Valley community.

Marian Cremin moved to Forest Knolls in the San Geronimo Valley from Hells Kitchen, in Manhattan in 2000 to join her now-husband, poet Albert Flynn DeSilver. She had always been an avid hiker and biker and was thrilled with the miles and miles of trails right in the back yard. Learning about the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, then called the Cultural Center was another wonderful part of moving here. Coming from NYC, where you often don’t even know your next door neighbor, to a place that has such a cohesive center open to all the valley’s residents was a great joy.

Marian has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 20 years and worked with many different populations. She began her career as a Mental Health Clinician at Rikers Island, New York City’s jail, and went on to coordinate programs throughout the five boroughs of NYC, mostly doing crisis work with families in their homes. Upon moving to the Valley, she opened a private therapy practice in San Anselmo, worked as a consultant to Marin County Community Mental Health and started a girls’ group through the Valley’s own Teen Center. She now directs Visiting Angels Senior Home Care, which she co-owns with her husband. Marian and Albert now live in Woodacre in a house they completed building in 2005.

Barbara Swift Brauer is a freelance writer and editor who has worked in Bay Area publishing since 1975, on books on every topic from cookbooks, fine art, and public policy, to family psychology, travel, and poetry.

Barbara and husband Laurence moved to San Geronimo in 1984 with young son Gordon and fledgling business Wordsworth, both of which soon thrived in the Valley community.

Barbara remembers back to Wordsworth’s early involvement with the Community Center, which had just been renamed the “Cultural Center.” In 2004, she and Larry were recruited for the editorial committee of the 2006 Resource Guide for the now re-renamed Community Center. It was so much fun, they have remained on the Communications Committee and now produce the Center’s quarterly newsletter, Stone Soup.

Debra Amerson received an MA Business from the California Institute Of Integral Studies (CIIS), participating in one of the nations first graduate-level academic programs in social entrepreneurship and socially responsible business management, emphasizing "new paradigm" management practices.  That MA program now called the Green MBA resides at Dominican College in San Rafael.  

Debra Amerson has been a green business pioneer since 2002, becoming Marin County’s very first Certified Green Business.  She’s  a visual artist & founder of deeper greeN, an award-winning  interior landscape design firm, that uses plants and art to create soulful & healthy spaces that connect people with the spiritual aspects of nature and rejuvenate lives. 
http://www.deepergreen.org

Christin Anderson  has over 20 years of experience working in the Wellness field . She also serves on the board of directors for the Ambassadors Hope and Opportunity, where she works for homeless and at risk youth in Marin. She has a Masters Degree in Health and Exercise Science from California State University of California at Long Beach and a Masters Degree in Environmental Management from USF. At USF she created an award winning Worksite Wellness Program for over 3000 employees, which is the flagship for many other universities throughout the US. She also has experience in fields including UCSF’s Cardiac Rehab and Berkeley’s North Face marketing/research team. Christin has worked with students at USF on issues of Optimal Nutrition, Human Performance and Eating disorders . She loves the outdoors where she spends time hiking, bird watching, gardening and cooking . She has a son who has just graduated from Humboldt State University and is working with the National Park Service. Christin feels that our connections to each other and the natural world is true wellness.

Grifin Anderson has grown up here in the San Geronimo Valley. He attended preschool in San Geronimo, and then attended Lagunitas School from kindergarten to eighth grade. As a student at Drake High School, Grifin participated in various sports including track and field, soccer, and mountain biking. After graduating, he moved on to Humboldt State University where he studied to achieve a degree in Recreation Administration with a minor in Business. After graduating from Humboldt State University, he joined the National Park Service to restore and build trails within the Point Reyes National Seashore.
 Grifin has a deep passion for the outdoors and the community within the San Geronimo Valley. Growing up in Woodacre, he has valued his strong ties with his neighbors and other community members. Having enjoyed his childhood and adolescence exploring the beauty of the watershed, he knows the ridgeline like the back of his hand.
As the youngest member on the board of directors, Grifin represents a voice for the youth of the Valley. He has worked as a camp counselor for the SGVCC Summer Camp and is currently working as a trail crew member for the Marin County Open Space. As one of the newest additions to the board, Grifin intends to strengthen his ties within the community. He also hopes to serve as a steward for the natural environment of the Valley. He is looking forward to collaborating with other board members to cultivate a voice for the younger generations.

John was born and raised in San Francisco, he is a graduate of San Jose State and a Vietnam Veteran.  He married his wife Kathy in 1970 and they have 3 sons and 7 grandsons.  They moved to San Geronimo in 1976.  John served 30 years as a San Francisco Firefighter and is now retired.
During the 34 years that John has lived in the San Geronimo Valley he has coached soccer, basketball, and Little League Baseball.  He has been the head of St. Cecilia CYO for 30 years.  He began working on the building of a Gym for the youth of the San Geronimo Valley in the late 1970's and the dream came true this year with the opening of the Gym. John has played and still plays basketball on Saturdays at the schoolyard.  The game has been going on continually for 34 years.  John is happy to join the board and contribute whatever he can to enhance this wonderful community organization.

John Carroll grew up in Marin and moved to the San Geronimo Valley 14 years ago.  He is married to Monique Paltrineri and has two children 8 & 5 in the Open Classroom.  John holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a master’s in Education Administration from Sonoma State.  He is an Eagle Scout and has a first-degree black belt in Shaolin Kenpo Karate.  John has taught in schools in Vacaville, Richmond and Marin County for twenty-two years and is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources for the Tamalpais High School District. He loves the Valley’s sense of community and natural beauty and believes that it is an ideal place to raise a family.

As a third generation Marin county native, Janelle appreciates the natural, historical, and cultural heritage that enriches our local cities and towns.  She has taken full advantage of the opportunities in our community, owning a successful children’s clothing store during the 1990’s in Mill Valley and most of the past decade as a realtor and recently as a full time owner/partner in Front Porch Realty Group. Janelle brings to the board many years of experience helping lead the Lagunitas Schools fundraising foundation – LEAP.   She also enjoys her work with non-profits Habitat for Humanity and the Bishop Ranch in Healdsburg.  She and her husband Jim moved to Lagunitas in 1998 with their two children and found a rich community within the valley, a community she feels thankful for and ready to serve. 

Lila Friday has lived with her daughter, Erin, in San Geronimo for ten years. A nationally recognized Designer/ Interior Architect, Lila graduated from the University of Massachusetts and attended the Rhode Island School of Design. Lila is a member of ASID and CID.   Her business, Friday and Associates, Inc. specializes in high end interior design for remodeling and new construction.  She has worked extensively throughout the United States and as far away as Hong Kong . Presently her firm is working on Martha’s Vineyard, the Kona Coast of Hawaii and at Lake Tahoe . Lila has served on the Marin Ballet Board and Wildcare (formerly Terwilliger Nature Education Center .) She is pleased to join the board and be part of this vibrant and unique community.

Alexander McQuilkin and his family moved to Woodacre in 1992 when Alexander was  just 1 year old.  Alexander attended  Lagunitas School from Kindergarten through 8th Grade, then attending Drake High School and is now a Sophomore at College of Marin.
Alexander has been an active volunteer for the SGVCC for the last 7 years.  Assisting at numerous concerts, the Holiday Faire, helping out at the Food Bank and Senior Lunch as well as participating in the SGVCC’s Summer Camp first as a camper and then as a Counselor.  He also regularly attends the Valley Healthy Community Collaborative and was a part of the Teen Advisory Committee when the Gym/Teen Loft Programs were in development.
In addition to his many volunteer hours for the SGVCC, he has also served as an assistant to many Drake Athletic Coaches, volunteered at Serenity Knolls, helped out with CYO Basketball and served as a Student Liason for Student Affairs at College of Marin as well as a member of Marin Center for Independent Living’s Youth Disability Task Force.
He was recently made a member of the San Geronimo Lion’s Club.

Alexander is committed to participating and serving his community.  If there is an opportunity to help out he is always there.

Professor of Physical Education at the College of San Mateo (1956 - 1993) coached fencing and founded programs in modern dance, massage, physical fitness and womens weight training; Founding member of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center - Board member (1969 - present), Editor of Stone Soup; Founding member of the San Geronimo Valley Planning Group - Steering Committee member (1981-1996), Chairperson of Community Plan Update 1996, Chairperson of Community Plan Amendment Committee 2003 - present; Marin County Parks & Community Commission (1977 -1996), Trails & Bikeways Committee Chairperson 1977 - 1996; Marin Conversation League Board of Directors (1979 - 2003), President 1990 - 1992; Marconi Conference Center State Historical Park, Board Member 1990 - 2002, President 1992 - 1995 and 1998 - 2002; Co-founding member of Wilderness Way - President 2001 - present; Lagunitas homeowner since 1963.

A talented staff in collaboration with a "working" Board and "working" Committees is what makes the Community Center GO!

ARTS AND EVENTS COMMITTEE        
Chair: Debra Amerson
Meetings: As needed
Members: Debra Amerson, Jim Griffiths, Noel Bartholomew,  Larry Rippee, Hannah Doress, Dave Cort, Suzanne Sadowsky
Responsibilities: Initiate, plan, monitor, and evaluate all arts programs and Center events. This includes annual events such as the Spring Art Show, the Talent Show, and the Holiday Festival.

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE             
Chair: Don Holmlund
Meetings: As needed
Members: Don Holmlund, Debra Amerson, Larry and Barbara Brauer, Dave Cort, Suzanne Sadowsky
Responsibilities: Monitor all Center publications, the website, and other communications from the Center. 
Subcommittees: Stone Soup Editorial: Don Holmlund, Dave Cort,
Larry and Barbara Brauer
                                  Resource Guide: Every 5 years

FACILITIES AND VALLEY RESOURCE COMMITTEE                          
Chair:  Anne McClain
Meetings:  Wed. Mornings -Once a Month (Call 488-888 for details)
Members:  Anne McClain, Jack Kamesar, Ed Levine, Dave Cort, Suzanne Sadowsky
Responsibilities: With contact and guidance from the Lagunitas School District, determine rooms and buildings for Center Programs.  Determine any needed physical changes and plan for such. Construction of Gym/Youth Center, Rental policies, Building and Grounds.  Plan and monitor the Programs and acitivities of the Valley Resource Center.

FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE 
Chair: Georgiana Hernandez 
Meetings: As needed
Members: Dahlia Kamesar, Georgianna Herandez, Dave Cort, Suzanne Sadowsky, Jerome Rubin, Liza Crosse
Responsibilities: Develop annual budget (summer or early fall); Monitor budget on a quarterly basis. Determine most effective accounting tools.  Annual evaluation of Executive Director and Associate Director (Fall)  Review of salaries (late summer or fall).  Review of personnel needs, job descriptions. (as needed)
 

FUND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE         
Chair: Dahlia Kamesar 
Meetings: As needed
Members: Dahlia Kamesar, Liza Crosse, Hannah Doress, Dorene Schiro, Dave Cort, Suzanne Sadowsky, Joseph
Responsibilities: Plan the annual fundraising campaign (Fall, late Fall)  Plan other fund raising activities (i.e. phone-athon)  Participate in Council, Silent Auction, Gala, and other fundraising events.

BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE    
Meetings: As needed
Members: Georgiana Hernandez, Liza Crosse, Barbara Brauer, Debra Amerson
Responsibilities: Help recruit new Board members, Provide information to new Board members, Provide information to entire Board regarding Board member’s responsibilities, Board efficiency, etc

Please direct any inquiries for board members to nutrition@sgvcc.org or
(415) 488-8888.