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BOARD MEMBERS

 


  
  

Liz Welsh, President

 

I have lived in Amherst for the past 22 years and have been a hospice and home care nurse for the past 25 years. Prior to that, I was involved with housing and welfare rights organizing. The common thread of all my work, including Amherst Neighbors, is sitting around kitchen tables and talking about how we can connect with one another, have greater choices in our lives, and create positive change.
 

Linda Terry, Vice President

 

Linda Terry is Vice President for Amherst Neighbors. Now post-career, she was professor, consultant, and clinician in family therapy. In addition to AN, she now values advancing community and political issues through the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Mass, Better Angels, and Arise for Social Justice. Family, friends, and travel are central to her enjoyable aging. Linda is the Chair of the Governance and Communications and Outreach Committees. 
 

Ann Sklar, Treasurer

 

Ann Sklar has a Masters in Accounting from Northeastern University and spent much of her career in Boston's hospital industry. She became a Certified Public Accountant in 2001, providing consulting and accounting services to a variety of nursing homes, home health agencies and other non-profit entities. She retired to Western Massachusetts in 2016 and currently lives at Greenleaves Condominiums. She enjoys playing bridge, walking the bike trail, and participating in Five College Learning in Retirement. Ann is the Chair of the Finance Committee. 
 

Linda Spink, Clerk

 

In 2013, after 31 years in Washington DC, Linda moved with her wife to MA to serve as the Executive Director of Insight Meditation Society in Barre. Growing up as a tumbleweed kid in the Air Force, moving every three years, and having a 20-year career in international development, Linda is passionate about building strong and compassionate communities. Recently retired, she serves on Pelham’s Planning Board, Cultural Council, and Democratic Town Committee, and volunteers at the Amherst Survival Center. Other interests are meditation, gardening, photography, and playing with friends. Linda is the Chair of the Programs Committee. 

 

Carlie Tartakov

 

Carlie Tartakov grew up in San Francisco and moved to Amherst in 1968, where her children were raised. She taught in elementary schools in California and Amherst and then at Iowa State University. Her focus has been on multicultural/anti-racist education. Since retiring as a professor and returning to Massachusetts, she has joined several organizations and boards. Among them are the Sojourner Truth Memorial Statue Committee, the Roger Wallace Excellence in Teaching Foundation, and she is Co-host of "Black in the Valley" WHMP radio. Carlie is a member of the Communications and Outreach Committee. 








Pat Romney

Pat Romney has lived in Amherst since 1981 and has raised three children here. She is a psychologist with a small clinical practice focused on older adults and their families and has a consulting practice focused on excellence and equity in higher education and human service organizations. She is president of the Roger Wallace Excellence in Teaching Foundation and when she is not working, volunteering, or taking care of her grandchildren, she loves to travel. Pat is the Co-chair of the Fundraising Committee. 


Caroline Lederman

Caroline Lederman is a trained herbalist and Reiki practitioner with an MSW in group process. After retiring from her career as mother of three (where she still consults occasionally), Caroline became a hospice volunteer with Cooley Dickenson VNA. Her passions include spirituality, mental/physical health, travel with her family, and staying connected to and making a difference with other human beings. Thank you, Amherst Neighbors, for giving her the vehicle to practice daily what matters most! Caroline is the Co-chair of the Fundraising Committee



Marilyn Denny

Marilyn has lived in Amherst since 1970.  She taught sociology at several colleges, having tenure at the University of Saint Joseph until she retired recently; she also worked in legal services as an elder law attorney for about 30 years.  She likes to travel to the Middle East and has a passion for rugs and textiles, as well as food, from that area.  She looks forward, with enthusiasm, to working with her Amherst Neighbors. Marilyn is the Volunteer Co-coordinator.  


Theresa Ahrens

Theresa moved to the Pioneer Valley in 2015 to live closer to her two daughters. Having lived with her husband Don in 15 homes the last 34 years, she is looking forward to connecting with a vibrant, interesting community and growing old together. While hospice has been her work life, her life’s work has been aging. Forming Amherst Neighbors has been a lovely labor of love. Theresa is the Chair of the Service Committee and Volunteer Co-coordinator.