How long have you lived in the Bay Area?
The last nine years in the East Bay but 50 (!) years in the greater Bay Area starting with college at UC Berkeley.
How did you learn about Save Mount Diablo?
I don’t really remember, but we love supporting local organizations that protect land. It may have been from a Mount Diablo area map I picked up at the Marsh Creek State Park Heritage Days event.
When did you start volunteering with us, and why did you get involved?
Oddly, I started out helping with BioBlitzes. I saw a notice asking for volunteers to help out (probably in the Save Mount Diablo newsletter) and it sounded like fun—which it was.
When the Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve first opened, I saw a request in the email newsletter for volunteer docents to host groups. It sounded like fun, so I signed up.
Before we moved here, we lived next to a preserve on the peninsula where we volunteered, and I was looking for a way to get involved here.
Which Save Mount Diablo programs are you involved in?
I helped out with a few BioBlitzes before the pandemic. Lately I’ve been hosting at Mangini Ranch, and I started helping out as a sweep on the Discover Diablo hikes this year.
Most recently I’m helping out with tabling at [community] events.
What do you enjoy about the volunteer work you do?
I think it’s really important for people to get out in nature.
It helps people understand the importance of preserving what’s left of our native environment. It’s also a great stress relief for people.
I love talking with people out doing something they love—whether they’re experienced hikers or new to the trail. Plus, it gets me outdoors, which I love.
What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on as a Save Mount Diablo volunteer?
Not much has really been challenging. Finding a way to get into Mangini Ranch in the winter with the muddy trails is always a challenge.
Is there a memorable experience you’ve had as a Save Mount Diablo volunteer?
A group of hikers visited Mangini Ranch and some of them had been hikers when they were younger but now have physical challenges that make hiking harder.
It was really fun to help them get access to some of the Mangini trails and see them enjoy being out in nature again. We took it slow, and I helped them manage some of the more challenging sections.
Everyone had a good time and enjoyed their time in nature.
How do you spend your time beyond your volunteer work with us?
I worked in software engineering leadership at startups and bigger tech companies for many years and have now been retired for a few years.
I enjoy lots of hiking in the beautiful local parks (many preserved thanks to Save Mount Diablo). We also do a fair amount of traveling since we’ve left the daily grind. I really don’t understand how I had time for a job!
