Who Are We?

Board members see themselves as “responsible advocates” for the resource. We view the North Umpqua Foundation as a river-focused organization that informs and educates, distills ideas, provides analyses, and serves our donors, the community, and the river. We work to involve people in river appreciation and protection by offering hands-on activities, but also work on behalf of those members living elsewhere who cannot participate directly.

Our Values

Directors of The North Umpqua Foundation have a set of values that influence how they view the river. Collectively those values help to shape how the Foundation defines itself and conducts its work. Values include:

• Appreciation of the unique, wild nature and extraordinary landscape of the North Umpqua River, especially compared to experiences living and working in urban areas.
• The need to tread lightly in choices we make about recreating and living on the river.
• The experience and belief that river lovers are wonderful people.
• Emphasis on working collaboratively to seek workable solutions.
• Belief that there is more to life than economic activity; that nature is food for the soul, and we are diminished without its contact.
• Education is essential, and media involvement is critical.
• Belief that rivers should function as naturally as possible.
• Belief that the North Umpqua River is a national treasure, and greater protection will come from letting more people know about it.

Board of Directors

The North Umpqua Foundation has assembled a talented, multi-disciplinary board of dedicated conservationists who live in the Umpqua Basin or have strong connections to the watershed. Board members include:

Jon Kurtz, President - Jon has lived and fished on the North Umpqua for over thirty years. He has owned and operated a plumbing & mechanical contracting business in Roseburg since 1977. A contributing member of TNUF since its inception, he is also a member of and supporter of the following: Oregon Trout, Trout Unlimited, The Steelhead Society of British Columbia, Pacific Rivers Council, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Lands and myriad other environmental and conservation organizations.

Karl Konecny, Vice-president.

Michael Morrison, Secretary.

Doug Carl, Treasurer.

Peter DeLuca, Board Member - Since 1996, Peter has served as Administrator of the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, overseeing a staff of 250. For 29 years, Peter's career has centered on management/labor relations and workplace issues, mostly in government. He spent five years as Attorney-in-Charge of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Oregon Department of Justice. Pete is a life-long fly fisher, having fished the North Umpqua for 20 years.  He is a member of Federation of Fly Fishers, Oregon Trout, American Rivers , the Nature Conservancy and a host of other environmental concerns.

Penny Tannlund, Board Member – Penny has over 30 years of experience working on non-profit boards, and extensive training from the Junior League, American Arbitration and United Way . She currently serves on the board of the Douglas County Library Foundation. Penny worked five years with the national “Call to Action” program. In the 1970s, she was the founding member of a number of grassroots organizations devoted to health care and has served on local and state-wide political campaigns.

Jim Van Loan, Board Member – Jim has been the owner of Steamboat Inn for the past 30.5 years, (as well as dishwasher). He was appointed to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in 1987, serving for eight years. He was a founder of The North Umpqua Foundation, Oregon Trout, Wild Steelhead Magazine, and has been a member of The Steamboaters for 30 years. He serves as a board member for the Wild Salmon Center and Pacific Rivers Council. He is a lifetime member of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Oregon Hunters Association.

Scott Goodwin, Board Member -   Scott has been an associate at his family-owned dairy business most of his life. He is a life-long fly fisherman including close to 30 years fishing the North Umpqua . Scott is a life member of the Federation of Fly Fishers and a member of the Native Fish Society.

Patricia Lee, Board Member - Pat has extensive background in business and accounting and is the general manager of Steamboat Inn. She has served on several boards and committees involving natural resource issues and currently serves on the boards of Battered Persons' Advocacy, volunteers with the Red Cross and coordinates “Student Day” activities during the annual Glide Wildflower Show.

Charles Spooner, Board Member – Retired from University of California , San Diego School of Medicine, Charles is an active consultant in medical research and education as Professor Emeritus and Associate Dean Emeritus. He is a member of American Fisheries Society, charter member Federation of Fly Fishers, and board member of The Steamboaters. He has participated in a number of river and salmonid spawning surveys.

Peter Tronquet, Board Member – Peter is currently a board member of the Native Fish Society and The Steamboaters. He is involved on an advisory committee to establish the Jefferson Nature Center in Medford , and volunteers for the Oregon Trout Salmon Watch educational program.

Brian Light, Board Member.

Pat & Becky McRae, Board Members.

Garry & Rita Kenny, Board Members.

Consultants

Jim Lichatowich, Science Advisor - Jim is recognized international for his work to restore wild salmonid populations and is helping to provide the vision and scientific underpinnings for the Foundation's big-picture, long-term strategy to protect and restore the river. He is the author of Salmon Without Rivers, which received the Washington State governor's writers award for 1999.

Chris Frissell.

Volunteers

Lee Spencer, Fish Watch volunteer - For the past four years, Lee has served as the fish guardian at Big Bend Pool on Steamboat Creek. In his past work as an archeologist, Lee participated on digs as far away as Peru . In 1991, he authored the archeological paper, Pacific Salmon and Environmental Change in the Rogue Basin . As Fish Watch volunteer, Lee uses the observation skills of his profession to keep a detailed natural history journal, recording steelhead behavior and other wildlife activity he witnesses during his many hours at Big Bend Pool.

Tim Purvis, Web Master - Tim is the resident geek in charge of making sure you can read this web site. He spends way too much time messing with computers and not nearly enough time as he'd like on the North Umpqua.

Chris Santella, Writer - Chris is a freelance writer and principal of Steelhead Communications, a marketing communications firm based in Portland , Oregon . His feature work has appeared in the New York Times, the New Yorker, Travel & Leisure, Field & Stream and Fly Rod & Reel, among other publications. Chris is the author of the "Fifty Places..." books including Fifty Places To Fly Fish Before You Die, Fifty Places To Play Golf Before You Die andThe Fifty Greatest Fly Fishing Stories published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang. Chris lives in Portland with his wife Deidre and daughters Cassidy Rose and Annabel Blossom.