2018-19 Board of Directors

Kathy and her husband Chris spend as much time in Inverness as possible.  Kathy is also a member of the Rotary Club of West Marin.  Her interests include gardening and affordable housing.  Occasionally, she finds herself in her greenhouse/studio puttering with ceramic shards to create stepping stones or in the sewing room working on various projects.

Born in San Francisco and attending high school in Marin County, I first explored West Marin on the days I cut school. I married my high school sweetheart, Richard, and we moved to Inverness in 1976. I worked at a myriad of local jobs to survive financially: I typeset the Pt. Reyes Light, worked as a hostess at the Olema Inn, bused tables at Manka's, was a teaching assistant at West Marin School, wrote grants and then evaluated grant applications for a local family foundation, and was the assistant editor for Commonweal Institute's quarterly journal. After receiving my masters in Creative Writing at SFSU, I taught English at COM for 23 years. I first served as an IA board member in the late '70's, soon after I protested the raising of Kent Dam and was sued as an individual by MMWD. That led me to five years of attending State Water Resources Control Board hearings which provided a deep knowledge of our watershed. In 1990, Richard and I gave birth to our son, Davis, which prodded us to move out of our 650 sq. ft. cabin into a 24' trailer on the nearby parcel we purchased where Richard designed and built, with one laborer, the house I now live in. Richard died in 2005. I am currently retired from teaching, back to writing and gardening.

I grew up on a ranch in Inverness that is now part of the National Seashore. I married Rob Arndt in 1993 and we have three daughters.  My family has been part of this community since 1939. Its important to me to have the ranching community be part of the village community. There are so many issues that we can resolve together.  I graduated from Tomales High School. I continue to live and work with my family on our ranch. I also have several part time positions in the community. I have been involved with the West Marin Elementary School and Tomales High School.  I believe in our community and all the natural, and historical beauty here in our area.

I settled in Inverness in 1994, after having sampled the delights, and shortcomings of New York, London, and San Francisco.  My life as a writer began in the late 1970s and was preceded by a succession of odd jobs: waitress, office temp, encyclopedia salesperson, assistant to a patent attorney/divorce lawyer, videographer, production assistant on the1970s children’s album, Free to Be You and Me, ethno-botanist in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, and graphic designer.  My focus was on environmental issues and international development. While living in London I was environmental correspondent for New Scientist magazine.  I wrote for many British and American newspapers and magazines, including The New Yorker. For eight years I was Executive Director of the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin and am proudest of our successful effort to protect the beautiful and valuable Tomales dunes and wetlands at Lawson’s Landing.  I am well aware of how fortunate I am to live in this extraordinary place and I believe the Inverness Foundation and Association have an important role to play in protecting its heritage and future.

Tom Gaman has lived in Inverness since 1986 with his wife Barbara. He is a semi-retired consulting forester and an advocate for Chicken Ranch Beach, healthy bishop pine forests, our many walking trails and a clean and a sustainable Tomales Bay.

A West Marin resident since 1980, William has been an active participant in a variety of community affairs. He has served on the boards of the West Marin Chamber of Commerce, The Coastal Health Alliance, the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, and now, the Inverness Association. William is a real estate agent specializing in coastal Marin properties.

Bob Johnston is Professor Emeritus, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis. He earned a BA in Art History/Architecture from Dartmouth, a Master of Planning from USC, and a Master of Science from the University of Nevada at Reno. Bob served on the Truckee Planning Commission from 2004 to 2010.  Bob taught environmental impact assessment and land use planning courses for 34 years.  He has critiqued regional transportation plans all over the U.S.  Bob was a member of citizens groups in Davis that got two major initiatives passed to stop a road widening and to expand the downtown park.