Board of Directors

President

Lee, a retired physician, has lived among Garry oaks on Whidbey Island for over forty years. After nurturing several volunteer oaks in his yard, he became interested in OHGOS, volunteering primarily with new oak plantings around the region and giving talks to the public about the Garry oak. His other hobbies include gardening and raising giant pumpkins.

Vice-President

Brad Gluth has spent time in Oak Harbor since 1986 and became a Whidbey resident in 2003.  He is an engineer by trade and grew up spending time in the Pacific Northwest woods with his father who imparted a deep respect for trees and landscape to him.  Brad feels that Oak Harbor is a special place and is proud of the effort the community has put forth to restore our native oak population.

Past President

Laura is a longtime Whidbey Islander and grew up with a reverence for the Garry Oaks in Oak Harbor. In addition to being a founding member of OHGOS, Laura is a retired Registered Nurse and worked in acute care for 30 years. Laura and her husband, Barry, are avid gardeners.

Treasurer

Charlotte came to Whidbey Island four years ago when her navy daughter was stationed at the NAS. She’s from Sonora, California where she retired as an Environmental Health Specialist and then worked as an arborist in the Sierra foothills. Charlotte is a lifelong conservationist and believes in protecting and preserving our native habitats.

Secretary

Arnie Peterschmidt is a native of western Washington and has been an Oak Harbor resident since 1996. Arnie grew up roaming evergreen forests typical of the region and fishing in Puget Sound and has a lifelong appreciation for local ecology and the outdoors. The Garry Oak trees are unique, vital to the local ecology and provide an important sense of place for the community.

Board Member, Director of Special Projects

A fifth generation Whidbey Islander, Kyle is passionate about preservation of the natural features that make our island beautiful.

Board Member

Kathy, a retired educator with Oak Harbor Schools, grew up in Oak Harbor in a Navy family. Her family enjoyed outdoor activities and treasures landscape features specific the PNW.

Board Member

Brian, an Oak Harbor resident since 1958, has both worked and volunteered in the environmental field. He and wife Ellen, also an OHGOS member, enjoy gardening and beach walking with their granddaughter.