Friends,
My what a long, strange year it's been*!
The events of 9/11/2001, and the ensuing Bush Administration
rush towards war and sacrifice of our environmental protections, have left a lot
of us sort of numb. We've all been seriously touched by these events, in more
ways than any of us yet fully comprehend.
2002 has been highlighted by some big changes for Camille
and Geoffrey...
(click on thumbnail
photos to expand them.)
Camille
This stands out as a year of high adventure as well as one of
my busiest. Three key projects kept me juggling: organizing for Wilderness &
River protection, teaching kindergarten, and traveling with family and friends.
Being part of the CA Wild Heritage Campaign "Team" has been life changing and a
peak experience. In
my fifth year as San Diego
organizer I worked hard with wonderful volunteers for Boxer's introduction
of the CA Wild Heritage Act in May to Congress (I'm
shown here at the Wilderness Bill Introduction Press Event
in May), for our
efforts to convince Senator Feinstein to support the bill, and finally
celebrated with the Ventana Wilderness bill passage this Dec. I'm filled with
the deepest gratitude for the heroic efforts of Geoffrey, our local Sierra club
volunteers, and the statewide volunteers and staff of the CA Wild Heritage
Campaign. My friend Merrill and I job-shared at kindergarten this past year and
we worked at our highest energy level for those precious students.
Travel adventures were wonderful:
After years of excitement and with the goal of
sustainability (23 years of teaching and 7 years of Sierra Club 1/2 time
volunteering), I decided to take a year leave from both for rest and
recuperation. Special thanks to Geoffrey, family and friends for the many ways
you have brightened my life and for giving your loving support this year.
Geoffrey
I’ve had a wonderful two years working as staff Conservation
Program Coordinator for the Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter. Working full
time to facilitate the vast volunteer-based advocacy and education program in
our chapter is the fulfillment of a dream. Unfortunately, due to a budget
shortfall, the Executive Committee made the difficult decision to reduce my time
to 50% on September 1. Unable to live on the new $16,000/year salary, I was
forced to seek other part time work to (attempt to) make up the difference. I
have reactivated my
The ComputerSmith
consulting practice, and have a number of new clients. I've been retained by
Nonprofit
Management Solutions as an Affiliate Consultant, working to help
nonprofit organizations with their information technology needs. I've helped
another
San Diego-based
non-profit get started, and have taken over the regional organizing
for the
California Wild
Heritage
Campaign in 2003. This new, diversified employment portfolio has
brought new
dimensions to my already exciting life, and is helping me to understand the true
meaning of 'over extended'! I'm still very involved as chair
of the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Citizens Advisory Committee (I'm
seen here On Black Mountain
Overlooking Beautiful Mira Mesa,
beyond the Preserve).
Camille and I try to find a full day each week for ‘us’,
often taking to the road on our tandem bicycle. All in all, too much work fun,
and not enough recreation fun!
In other news ...
After
complaining vehemently about being cooped up inside our townhouse all the time,
Puma (left) was 'transferred' to Camille's
folks' 20-acre spread in Valley Center last year, only to disappear after six
months of blissful feline outdoor freedom. Thanks to Don and Darlene Armstrong
for their caring support. Jornada (right) is a little cat that
came to us a couple of years ago, and now rules the roost in Puma's absence. A
feral cat rescued from a dumpster, Jornada is slowly overcoming her anxieties,
and provides us much warmth and joy.
We
both look forward to an exciting year of changes in 2003. Perhaps as a
foreshadowing of these changes: In December we purchased a 'new' 1990 VW Vanagon
Camper, and will be exploring the Baja California peninsula during the holiday
break. We are excited about this new adventure vehicle, nicknamed 'Gypsy', and
can't wait to experience some life on the road. Can you say ‘Fahrvergnügen’?
F(February
update: Geoffrey has been granted a 3-month leave of absence from Sierra Club.
We’re on the road, exploring California proposed
wilderness areas, from Feb14 through April 30! Check our
web site for itinerary.)
Finally, in the ‘there really is a God’ department, our family put our faith
in higher powers – and medical technology – as
Geoffrey’s younger
sister Kimberly
Billman underwent major open heart surgery in March 2002
to correct a life-threatening defect, which was diagnosed quite by accident just
6 months earlier. Camille and Geoffrey got to play full-time parents for a week
to kids Becky and Matthew, while husband Glenn and
parents Ruth and Devore Smith supported Kim at the Stanford Hospital in Palo
Alto. Seven months later Kim is back in the swing of things, shown here
performing on classical harp at the gala ‘Evening with the Mayor’ fundraiser
that Geoffrey helped organize for the Sierra Club in October.
We hope your 2003
is full of wonder and personal growth.
You deserve it!
Camille and Geoffrey
4camille@san.rr.com ~
gsmith@thecomputersmith.com
http://home.san.rr.com/camillegeoffrey
San Diego, CA ~ 858.566.5676 home ~ 858.442.1425 cell
*with
apologies to Jerry Garcia
