Julie Buktenica...

joined the board in 2007 and became an active member of the Service Committee in 2008.

Becky Foote...

has been a board member since 2003. Becky teaches math at the South Whidbey branch of Skagit Valley College and is on the board of the South Whidbey Schools Foundation. Becky is an active member of the Finance Committee and our current Treasurer.

Bob French...

and his wife Bernita Sanstad have lived on South Whidbey since 1977. Bob has been a board member for 3 years, currently serves as Vice-President, maintains the Friends of Friends data base, and serves on the Community Relations Committee. His day job is at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders.

Claudia Fuller...

has worked in Social Services for over 20 of the 26 years she's lived on South Whidbey. She worked for Senior Services of Island County for seven years and moved on to coordinate the Whidbey AIDS Support Fund for 7 years. For the past 15 years, she has directed the Lifeline Program for Whidbey General Hospital. Her office is at the Bayview Senior Center. Claudia is our current President and serves on the Community Relations Committee.

Susan Gilles...

moved to Whidbey Island 25 years ago with her husband and children. An RN with over 40 years of experience, Susan currently works part time at South Whidbey Community Clinic. She observes the need for FoF daily at her work, and is ever so grateful for the assistance FoF offers the community. She is working towards becoming a Certified Music practitioner offering live therapeutic music at the bedside and is also a Sound, Music Healing Practitioner. Susan looks forward to participating on the board and serving the community in this manner.

DOUG JOHNSON...

joined the board at the beginning of 2008. He and his wife Jo Finley have lived on Whidbey Island since moving to Langley in 1994. During that time, Doug has worked at Boeing and the University of Washington, primarily in computing related areas. He has personal and family experience with the difficulties associated with getting and paying for health care, and he joined FoF to help others in the community with these issues.

Dana Kelly...

has lived on South Whidbey for 29 years. For 10 of those, she was a County Public Health Nurse, frequently referring individuals to Friends of Friends who otherwise would have gone without services. She now works serving the Medicaid population as a home visiting nurse for Providence Midwifery Care. Dana recently joined the Finance Committee.

Christi Ruscigno...

has been a part of the South Whidbey community for over 30 years. She currently works from home developing online courses for University of Washington Educational Outreach and uses these skills to oversee the Friends of Friends Web site. She is also a member of the Fundraising Committee.

Suzanne Schlicke...

served on the original board of Hearts and Hammers before joining the Friends of Friends Board of Directors. She is a member of the Fundraising Committee and writes thank-you notes to our generous donors.

Diana Shirley...

has lived on South Whidbey for nearly three decades. She developed and coordinates the Langley Middle School Apprenticeship Program. She joined Friends of Friends 5 years ago and currently serves on the Fundraising Committee.

Mary Stewart...

has been a health care provider for 30 years. In her present work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she sees her own clients struggle to meet their health care needs, especially the cost of very expensive medications. She is glad to participate in Friends of Friends efforts to improve the lives of people in our community. Mary also serves on the Fundraising Committee.

Patty Willson...

has served Friends of Friends in a variety of roles since joining the board in 1998. She has worked in the health-care field on South Whidbey for over 25 years, she recently retired from her position as medical bookkeeper for South Whidbey Physical Therapy. Patty currently serves as Secretary for the Friends of Friends board and is an active member of the Service Committee.

Melissa Young...

joined the Friends of Friends Board in 2004 because she wanted to be a part of an organization with direct and local community service. Formerly a cabinetmaker, Melissa has worked for 20 years with Moving Images, producing documentary films for television on the environment and social justice . Melissa serves on the Service Committee and takes care of our grant writing.

and

Emily Schmidt...

our Service Coordinator has lived on South Whidbey for over 40 years. She has been active in many community venues through the years, serving 6 years on the Board of Hearts and Hammers and teaching preschoolers and high-risk school-age children for decades. Emily originally joined the Friends of Friends Board as a member of the Public Relations Committee.