Friends of Liberia
- Stephanie Vickers - President
Stephanie Schnabel Vickers served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sanniquellie
from 1971-1973 and then worked as a trainer for Peace Corps until 1975
working all over Liberia. Stephanie worked initially as a teacher trainer
with Liberian counterparts but then was recruited to teach 7-12th grades
at St Mary's for Father Francis (now Archbishop Francis). She has been
a member of Friends of Liberia since the early 1990s and became more active in
2001 volunteering to be the site administrator for the LEAP teacher training
project.
Stephanie has returned to Liberia in 2001, 2002 and twice in 2004 to work with LEAP trainers and teachers and help establish the new NGO, Liberian Educators for Action and Peace. After retiring from a 34 year teaching career, primarily in Portland, Oregon and raising her two sons, she has become more involved with FOL and has volunteered to serve as President. It is her hope that there are more returned volunteers like herself that may be able to carve out some time to support FOL's projects.
Since 2002 Stephanie and other Portland Liberian RPCVs have held an annual fund raiser for LEAP. In addition to her FOL volunteering, Stephanie serves on the advisory council for the African Women's Coalition, a local organization supported by the Office of Refugee and Resettlement that supports women and children who have fled Africa either as a refugee or an immigrant and have settled in Portland.
Pat Reilly - Vice President
Jane Martin - Secretary
Jim Bowman - Treasurer
Jim Bowman served three years in Liberia (1968-70) as a Peace Corps volunteer teacher in Maryland County. Returned with a Friends of Liberia election observer team in 1997.
In 1999 Jim became director of the Office of Public Policy in Washington, DC for Lutheran World Relief. In 2004 Jim retired to Albuquerque, NM. Other than treasurer duties for FOL which seems at times to be a half -time job, Jim
- Serves on a national Advisory Committee for Corporate Social Responsibility for the Lutheran Church
- Goes to as many jazz and salsa music events as he can
- baby sits his grandchildren
- collaborates with an architect friend in Nebraska on building projects in Massachusetts, Colorado and Nebraska
- spends time in his woodworking shop
Jim was an election observer for the October 2005 election.
Jim McGeorge – Membership Coordinator
Jim McGeorge served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zorzor, Lofa County from 1968 – 71. He taught at Antoinette Tubman Junior High School for two years and worked as a rural construction volunteer in Zorzor District for another year. He met his future wife Pat who was a nurse at Curran Hospital in Zorzor where they got engaged.
Before retiring to Flagstaff, AZ in 2003, Jim worked for the City of Tucson for 5 years and the City of Tempe for 25 years. He has BS and MPA from the University of Arizona. In addition to helping FOL, Jim currently volunteers with the US Forest Service---Coconino National Forest, serves as a basketball coach at Coconino High School, assists the Peace Corps coordinator for Northern Arizona, and serves on Fiesta Bowl and Insight Bowl committees.
Jim joined FOL in 1996 and has served as Membership Coordinator since 2003. He and his wife Pat have two children, Christi and Adam.
Debra Mattina -Volunteer Coordinator Verlon Stone - Electronic News Coordinator
Mike
Waite served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in
Tapeta from 1974-1975 where he did forestry work.
In 1997 Mike traveled to Liberia as an Election Observer with the Friends of Liberia and assisted the LEAP teacher trainer group in 2004. He has been a member of the Friends of Liberia since the early 90's.
Mike recently retired from the Forest Service and moved from Mississippi to Vancouver, Washington. He enjoys travel, and photographing his grandchildren and numerous other people who would prefer not to have their picture taken.