Tallgrass Prairie Group ExCom Elections 2025

I have been a member since 2004.  From 2012-2014 I was our group's representative to the Chapter Excom.  From 2015-2018 I was the group's political chair.  I've done various jobs for the group over the years, but now my main focus is conservation.  I’m working on the restoration of the Old Plank Road Trail remnant prairies in my home town of Matteson.  These are high quality, original black soil prairies, some of the best of their type in the State of Illinois.  I also am publicity co-chair and host an X (Twitter) site for our group called the Tallgrass Prairie Sierra Club Group (@TallgrassPrGrp).

I have been a member of the Sierra Club since 1978 and have been on the Tallgrass Prairie Group’s Excom for over 30 years. I’m currently the treasurer for the group and manage the group’s website. I’m an active volunteer at the Midewin Tallgrass Prairie and the Morton Arboretum.

My husband, Gregg, & I became Sierra Club members in 2001 when we decided to take one of the trips the Sierra Club offers to the Arctic. Last year, I retired from Brookfield Zoo Chicago. During my zookeeper tenure of over 30 years I focused on various conservation efforts to help all species on the planet. My main focus was and still is polar bears and the loss of their habitat due to climate change. In 2012, I decided to get more involved with local conservation and started attending the now Tallgrass Prairie Sierra Club meetings and joined their ExCom. My focuses are conservation efforts, climate change and reducing our carbon footprints. Locally we can make a difference globally.

I have been a member of Sierra Club since 2020 and am excited for the ability to be more active with the organization and its activities. I was born and raised in the Joliet area and currently work as a Physical Therapist, specializing in the field of lymphedema - as well as a volunteer for the Forest Preserve District of Will County. I am an avid hiker, camper, backpacker and kayaker with a love of the outdoors and a passion for learning and protecting all that the environment has to offer us.