Meet EMC

mEET eAGLES mERE cONSERVANCY

Our Identity

Who are we? The Conservancy is a community organization which actively supports environmental, forest management, reforestation and in-town forest activities in and around Eagles Mere. All aspects of our Stewardship are managed by volunteer board of trustees guided by three core values – Awareness, Respect and Responsibility.

Our Actions

What we do is made up of activities and programs focused on three areas:

Preservation – land acquisition and maintenance, reforestation and hiking trail maintenance.
Education – programs for children and adults, periodic communiques and forums related to environmental concerns.
Recreation – forest rambles, hikes, and educational walks.

Five guiding principles underlie our planning

We honor our fiduciary responsibility to hold the land in trust.
What we do is bigger than the organization. “What is best for Eagles Mere?” will always be the operative question.
We are attentive to community inquiry concerning our business and actions.
We strive to earn the title “Trustworthy Steward” by acting credibly with an eye cast toward future generations.
We are apolitical.

EMC By-Laws
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Executive Committee

President: Lori Faeth
Vice President: Jim Moyer
Secretary: Karen Stacks
Treasurer: David Stoeffel

Directors

Cynthia Bartus
Lisa Bocchini
Christy Carter
Elie-Anne Chevrier
Robin Dickinson

Kyle Gardner,
Development Committee Chair

Janice Johnson
Jeff Klemens
Ann Klotz
Marty Hammond
Margaret Liegel
Barb Clemente Micco

Barb Powers
Lorraine Scaven
Pete Swinick
Steve Thompson
Tim Turner

Financial Advisor:
Mark Ward

Consulting Forester:
Steve Jaquith

dEBBIE gEIST

Lead Environmental Educator

Debbie Geist has lived in Sullivan County since 1988. She lives in Laporte and has taught for the Sullivan County School District for the past twenty-four years. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education (K-6), Certifications in General and Earth/Space Science (7-12), and a Masters in Education. Debbie was the advisor for the high school's PA Envirothon Club for 15 years. She has taught Middle School Science for 15 years and 5th/6th grade Science for nine years, and will be finishing off her career back to where she started. In past summers, she implemented a STEM based program up at the Eagles Mere Air and Auto Museum for students ranging in ages from 8 to 15. She enjoys working with people of all ages and values education and teaching others to be good stewards of the environment. Debbie has been working for EMC since 2019.

Irene Safren (Retired)

Environmental Educator

Irene Safren has been involved with our Conservancy since 1984. We learned about her when interviewing naturalists from the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center. Irene had just completed an internship in Environmental Education there. She was hired and started the successful tradition of children’s programs at the cabin. For the past 17 years, Irene has worked as an educator at the Churchville Nature Center in Bucks County, PA. She also leads seasonal programs for the Morris Arboretum.