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MEET THE BOARD

The Executive Board serves 3-year terms and meet virtually every other month to keep the current NLCBAA initiatives alive. Our board is made up of mostly former canoe guides, spanning across several canoe base "generations"!


Jenn "Thomason" Phillips

 

Board Chair

  • Lives in Colorado
  • Primary school teacher, mom to 2 girls and emergency foster mother to many
  • Participant on 10 day wider-op 2001, GIT 2002, Guide 2003-2007
  • Joined board in 2020



Kate Ford

Vice Chair

  • Currently works at University of Massachusetts, Lowell, coordinating outdoor programs
  • Resides in Derry, NH
  • Guide 2001, 02, 03
  • Director 2004, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09

  • Currently teaches high school earth and environmental science
  • Resides in Chesapeake, VA
  • Guide 1995, 1996
  • Assistant Director 1999

Liz Thapaliya

Co-Treasurer

    • Secondary science teacher specializing in Earth and Environmental Sciences
    • Parent of Sam and Annalise and tender of ducks and chickens
    • Served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal
    • Guide 1995, 1996
    • Assistant Director 1999

    Shaina Miller

    Secretary

    • Currently a college student
    • Resides in Illinois
    • GIT in 2021
    • Guide in 2022-3

    Leigh Stepan

    Co-Treasurer

    • Consults professionally on benefits and risk management in employment
    • Splits time between MN and AZ
    • Participant in 1975
    • GIT in 1976-7
    • Guide in 1979-80
    • Found us again just a few years ago!




    Denise Hayes

    Fundraising Coordinator

    • CEO of Roanoke Valley SPCA
    • Lives in western VA
    • Wider Op participant in 1993 (her guides were Twitch and Katie Wasner!)
    • GIT in 1994-5
    • Guide in 1996-7



    Cynthia Hagan

    Special Projects

    • Currently working part-time in schools and volunteering for local GS council
    • Resides in Seattle, Washington
    • Participant 1989, 90, 91; GIT 1992, 93; Guide 1994, 95
    • Brought her own Girl Scout troop for a trip!
    • Rejoined board in 2019



    Doris Kolodji

    Vision Coordinator

    • Currently teaches 6th grade
    • Resides in Hibbing, MN
    • Participant in 1973-4
    • GIT in 1975
    • Guide in 1976 and decades afterwards
    • Principal actor in establishing the current Canoe Base
    • Guide, Director, All-Around Consultant pretty much all the years of the base
    • Plays the accordion
    • On board since 2016

    Eleanor Richards

    Communications

    • Currently a college student
    • Lives in MN
    • GIT in 2021
    • Guide in 2022-3
    • Heard about the program from her mom, former guide Steph McDaniels!




    Alexa DeJoannis

    Membership Coordinator

    • Resides near Tampa, Florida
    • Loves birds!
    • Came on a 7-day Wider Op (now known as a Destination) to Lake Agnes in 1991
    • GIT 1992-3, guide 1994-6
    • Joined the board in 2023


    Jenny Morrison Cleary

    Vision Coordinator

    Jenny was integrally involved in developing and supporting NLCB for more than 35 years, and a beloved member of our canoe base family. We lost her in January 2024.

    Questions or comments after looking around? Email us at boardchair@nlcbaa.org.

    NLCBAA works closely with Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines on promoting this small but mighty program.

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