2012 Board Elections: Nominees and Bios
All members of LAWC with voting rights (general and charter members) are allowed to cast a ballot for the 2012 Board Seats. Below are the bios of each nominee. There are four (4) board positions available and five(5) candidates. Read the bios below to help you select the four (4) board members you would like to see serve.
You will receive your ballot via mail. All ballots must be mailed in (PO Box 582, Palisade, CO 81526) or delivered at the Annual Member Meeting on January 20, 2012.
Susan Metzger - General Board Position
I spent 27 years teaching and retired last year. I also worked at a plant nursery for 7 years and started growing lavender in 2005 after growing plants in a small yard. I have been a member of LAWC since the first year and I enjoy supporting the activities. I worked with the festival
committee last year and was amazed by what so many people with different talents can accomplish.I look forward to next year's festival. I think LAWC is a great organization and I was glad to have my artwork on the first poster. I've also enjoyed visiting other lavender farms and doing artwork of them.
Carol Schott - General Board Position
James, my husband, and I moved to Paonia from the Boulder area three years ago. One of my goals in moving to Paonia was to grow lavender and distill essential oil. We also raise dairy goats, make cheese, goat milk soap and sell goat shares so that customers can receive raw milk. By this coming year we will be raising grass finished beef and lamb by engaging in intensive rotational grazing.
When we moved here, I assumed we would be the only ones growing lavender. It was a wonderful surprise to discover The Lavender Association of Western Colorado. We became charter members. The Association has been a wonderful support system for our lavender venture. The founding board and president have done an amazing job of building the association and creating momentum for the lavender industry in Western Colorado.
Prior to moving to the Western Slope, I founded and was the director of Science Discovery, a hands-on science education outreach program at the University of Colorado. Science Discovery served students from kindergarten through high school and engaged in teacher training. We engaged graduate students and faculty to help teach and develop programs. Science Discovery grew from 15 classes for kids to over 200 classes for kids, classroom presentations throughout the state, wilderness camps, and teacher training workshops. It grew from one employee, myself, to 9 full time employees and a cadre of 50 teachers.
As director of Science Discover I gained experience in personnel management, program development, curriculum development, budgeting, public relations and grant writing.
Currently I serve on the Board the Blue Sage Center for the Arts, a small non-profit, cultural arts center in Paonia. Both my husband and I serve on the board. Shortly after our appointments we realized that the Blue Sage was in a downward spiral and had lost it vitality. We embarked on a strategic planning process culminating in a new mission statement, a major fundraising effort, and hiring an executive director. The Blue Sage is back in business and again providing classes, plays, music events, a venue for private parties, such as the mayor's birthday party and weddings. I have been chair of the classical music committee. We have just completed raising funds for a concert piano and will initiate a chamber music series beginning with a concert this Thanksgiving weekend. While this work has taken a chunk of time, it has been very gratifying to see the spark return to this Paonia institution.
I am interested in serving on the LAWC Board of directors because I think it is a wonderful organization and has potential to continue to grow. It is an important part of my support system in my efforts to grow lavender and I want to make sure it continues to be present for all of us engaged in the lavender business. When I heard that Judy and Lyle Millsap were leaving the board, I felt it was important to continue to have a representative from the North Fork Valley. We have slightly different needs than those that are closer to Grand Junction/Palisade and there are additional people in the North Fork who are seriously considering growing lavender and I want to make sure they are represented.
I feel that I bring organizational skills and experience of being on a board of directors that could benefit LAWC. I would be honored to serve along side the current board members.
Joseph Brown - General Board Position
A changing of life style is the reason I moved to Colorado ten years ago to relieve the pressures of Corporate and Business Ownership in California. Making a change by becoming a Glass Artist in 98, brought my little Glass Business to Colorado in 2003 and settled in Palisade in the old public bathroom on Main St. Old habits are hard to shed, with an established clientele in wholesale of propitiatory glass items for two national wholesale suppliers, have succeeded to keep me busy to date.
As such became involved in local politics with interests in supporting future growth in the Western Slope. The Lavender Association, as a future cash crop and business, held my interest over two years now as a worthy endeavor to support. Not a grower nor provider of Lavender products at present, wish to be part of the success of the Association and willing to be of serve on the board.
I beleive my background, along with not being directly involved in lavender itself, would be a asset.
Ruth Elkins - General Board Position
Ruth Andrea Elkins was born on January 24, 1965 in Lexington, Kentucky. Her family later moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she graduated from Air Force Academy High School in 1983. From 1984 to 1987, she attended Northern Arizona University with emphasis in accounting. Later, she was married and had two children. From 1987 to 1997, she owned and operated several solid and liquid waste companies as well as other companies in Arizona. During this time, she developed many of her skills in accounting, management, and crucial decision making while raising her young children. In 1997, she sold her companies to Waste Management and moved to Oxford, Mississippi. She lived in Mississippi for approximately ten years working as a medical transcriptionist while attending Northwest Community College.
Ruth moved to Palisade, Colorado in October of 2009 where her parents, Jerry and Sandra Elkins, reside as well. She has been an active member of the Lavender Association of Western Colorado since 2010. She is also the co-owner of Sprigs & Sprouts of Western Colorado, LLC, which is a lavender farm and farmer's market located on Highway 6 in Palisade. She is also working on obtaining her real estate broker's license here in Colorado, and she will be attending the Master Gardner program in January of 2012.
In summary, with her diversified background, Ruth has many qualifications including accounting, management, and future Master Gardner, as well as co-owner of a lavender farm, which would make her an excellent candidate for office with the Lavender Association of Western Colorado. Ruth is very passionate about her lavender farm as well as the bright future of the lavender industry here in Western Colorado. She has many ideas as well as visions to bring to the table and has a vested interest in the future of lavender farming here in Western Colorado.
Bob Lane - General Board Position
My Objective: Interested in supporting the Lavender Association of Western Colorado and to serve on the board.
To encourage new & seasoned growers and represent the south end of the valley (Montrose & Delta Counties).
Experience:
1990 to present Lane Construction, Inc. Olathe, CO
Colorado Residential Contractor
Developed 50 acre farm into 35 residential lots.
Designed and constructed 45 custom homes.
Member of HBA, hosting 2 parade homes in Delta County; 2006-2007.
1986 to present Dayspring Farm, LLC Olathe, CO
Owner Rancher – 4th generation farmer western Colorado
Participant in first annual Lavender Festival 2011 – L.A.W.C. hosting a full day event @ Dayspring Farm in Olathe.
Grass & alfalfa production.
Manage grass fed beef operation.
Provide free range eggs to Vitamin Cottage, Salida & Durango Natural Food Grocers.
Custom mobile distillation.
On-site Farm Store, overnight Farm Stays.
English & Lavandins; Old garden and heirloom Rose production.
Essential oils, hydrosols, lotions, soaps. (Certificate 101 Aromatherapy)
Commercial Asparagus production.
Cultivation on Farm without chemicals.
Education,
Interests &
Affiliations
North Eastern Jr College.
Charter member of L.A.W.C.
Member of Montrose ACT (Association of Commerce & Tourism
Member of Lowline Angus Association
Member of VOGA (Valley Organic Grower's Association)
Member of Colorado Proud
Member of Crested Butte & Montrose Farmer's Markets.
Natural Horsemanship training, endurance trail riding, co-lead monthly Navajo Mission trail ride, carpentry, loving grandkids.
Tips: If you are looking for a conscientious, dependable hard worker who follows instructions, is an objective listener & wants to see lavender become a viable alternative crop, than I am your man.
