Program Committee – Marianne Lins
Marianne Lins is the Vice-President and program committee chair. She has been a member of AAUW Big Bear for a few years and originally joined a San Diego branch after graduating from SDSU in 1987.
With a bachelors degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology, Marianne instead followed her passion as an artist and has been a self-taught graphic designer since 1988. Opportunities in Los Angeles led to a good job with an entertainment advertising agency introducing her to clients like Disney, Fox, Universal, Warner Bros. and others. In 1997 Marianne started her own boutique firm, Lins Graphics, which has allowed her to work from home and therefore move to the mountains eventually. Clients now include local businesses here in Big Bear like Wyatt’s and the Convention Center, The Pines, Village Business Association, and others. Working from home allows much freedom like hiking every morning and taking work with her on her travels with her dogs. Marianne lives in Sugarloaf and continues to work remotely giving her the freedom and independence she so craves.
Public Policy Committee – Laurie Wolfe
Laurie moved to California from New Hampshire in 1986. She retired in 2015 after 38 years as a public school teacher. She has been happily married for 33 years and enjoys spending time with family and friends. Laurie is an avid reader, likes outdoor activities and is always willing to lend a hand. She says that Dr. Seuss best sums her up in this quote, “Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Tech Trek Committee – Diane Cooper
Scholarship Committee – Lindy Edmond
My husband and I bought our Big Bear home in 2010 and moved up permanently in 2012 from Valencia, California. Valencia was our home for 42 years. We are both retired educators having spent 37 years in our professions. The last 14 of my career I was a principal in Glendale and Lancaster. We are fortunate to have chosen a career we truly loved. Since retiring in 2014 I have become an avid quilter and crafter both of which I found little time for before retiring. We five sons, 7 grandchildren and two mini-dachshunds. I volunteered to be on the Scholarship Committee several years ago and took over the position just last year. Our committee gets to meet so many lovely young ladies and have a small part in beginning their next chapter in their educational journey. It is very rewarding. I am honored to belong to AAUW and be amongst so many outstanding women that do so much for our community.
Speech Trek Committee – TBD
Sunshine Committee – Andrea Stewart
Zoo Experience Committee – Jill Myers and Christie Walker
After 20 years of teaching and a few years as a business owner, Jill currently works part time in Commercial Real Estate. She originally became second home owner in 1988, then a full time resident in 2012. Last year, she became a full time resident of Arizona; but plans to spend summers and attend special occasions on the mountain. She has been a member of AAUW since 2013, and was proud to be the Vice-President in 2017. In 2018, in collaboration with the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and the Bear Valley School District, Jill led a dedicated group of AAUW members in the development of The Zoo Experience Camp, which has had 2 successful years. She continues to Co-Chair this committee with Christie Walker as we hopefully resume our camp in 2021. In her free time, she loves to read, listen to music, dance, walk her dog, play games, and spend time with family and friends.
Christie Walker retired as a journalist in the optical industry on Sept. 30th of 2016 and joined AAUW on October 1st. Author, photographer, and crafter, Christie keeps busy with volunteer work, grandchildren, and now a new puppy. Her latest novel, Fearless, features four strong women coping with the joys and challenges of aging. Christie, and husband Robbie, live in Baldwin Lake in a house overlooking the Big Bear Valley.
Mentoring Committee – Julaine Salem and Sharon Congdon
Julaine Salem retired in 2002 as a elementary school principal and worked as a researcher and consultant for Apple for 11 years. She designed and painted sets for a local theater group in Big Bear. She enjoys reading and doing an occasional painting.
Sharon Congdon moved to Big Bear in 2002. She was an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles and Cupertino and then a school administrator in San Bernardino and Big Bear Lake. After 30 plus years as an educator Sharon is enjoying retirement in Big Bear and traveling all over the world.