![\"\"](\"https:\/\/olympicnewcomers.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tom-peet.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTom Peet<\/strong> was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota but raised a few miles north of Columbus, Ohio near Galena. He attended the Ohio State University from which he earned four degrees. He paid for the first two years of his undergraduate program at Ohio State by working at the Nestle Coffee Plant in Sunbury, Ohio and the second two as an automotive machinist at S&A Auto Parts in Westerville, Ohio, staying after graduating in 1972. When Westerville North High School opened in 1975 he was hired as one of two auto mechanics instructors, and Tom transferred to the social studies department where he specialized in U.S. and World History. Tom served as chairman of the social studies department from 1999-2012, was named Westerville\u2019s teacher of the year in 2000, and Wooster College\u2019s National Teacher of the Year in 2003. Tom is a car guy, computer hardware geek, and a Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and JFK Assassination expert. He and his wife Georgia are in love with the Olympic Peninsula; their two sons, Chad and Alex, still live in central Ohio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bob Brown<\/strong> was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He earned a BS In Wildlife Management at UW Steven\u2019s Point and an MA from Central Michigan University in Industrial Management. Bob served in the Air Force for 25 years. He was a navigator in KC135s, refueling other aircraft in the air. When he wasn\u2019t flying, he worked in headquarters command centers in Europe and at The Pentagon as a crisis manager. He served on the Joint Staff for the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and also commanded a squadron that managed large military deployments. After Bob retired from the Air Force, he worked for Johnson and Johnson managing production and engineering of pharmaceutical products. His interests and hobbies include sailing, boating, E-Biking, and canoeing. He also collects and modifies wristwatches. Bob has been in Newcomers\u2019 for 15 years and has served on the Board in the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Denise G. Thomson<\/strong>: I was born and raised in Ohio until my family moved to Orange County in Southern California when I was in the ninth grade. I earned my B.S. and M.S. degrees in Speech and Audiology at California State University, Fullerton, and later at California State University, Humboldt. While living in Humboldt County, I met my future husband, Glen Thomson. On December 18, 2026, we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary!! Following a move to Ukiah, California, and the birth of our oldest daughter, I began working with local elementary and middle schools, providing Speech and Language therapy. When a position opened with the Konocti Girl Scout Council, I began a 15-year professional career with the Girl Scouts. After moving to Sacramento, I was hired by the Del Oro Girl Scout Council as their Outdoor Program and Properties Director, a position that included managing nine council properties. After leaving Girl Scouts, I spent two years working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Sacramento International Airport\u2014a fascinating experience! I came full circle when I returned to education as the Project Coordinator for the School Readiness Birth-to-Five Initiative with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. It was a dream job! I built the program from the ground up and served as its administrator for 11 years. My work focused on outreach to low-income and immigrant families. I have volunteerism in my heart and continue to volunteer with the American Camp Association in their accreditation program (35 years), Olympic Theater Arts, Field Arts & Events Hall, Sweet Adelines Region 13, and my Sweet Adeline chorus, A Cappella Joy. I also sing with Grand Olympics Chorus. After building our home in Sequim in 2010, we moved here full-time in 2016. We love the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, Clallam County, and Sequim and value the many friendships we have made. The Olympic Newcomers\u2019 Club was the first group we joined, and now I am excited for the opportunity to give back to the Club and its members.bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Treasurer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Andrea Williams<\/strong> was born an Air Force brat in Albuquerque and lived most of her early life in Champaign and San Antonio (twice each). Her family moved to California in 1967. She considered Sacramento home for almost 30 years and Redding for 20. She and her husband Ken moved to Port Angeles in February 2017, and they plan to make this their last home. Andrea had three major careers: the US Army, Human Resources, and finally a college professor. She was the treasurer for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) in Redding for two years and, more recently, the treasurer for Phyllis Bernard\u2019s successful campaign for PUD Commissioner. Ken and Andrea joined the Newcomers\u2019 Club in 2017. They are members of the Port Angeles Yacht Club and the Crescent Grange in Joyce. She also volunteers with the Master Gardeners and for hospice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pat Nachreiner:<\/strong> I was born Patricia Kathleen Willson, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Note the unusual double \u201cL\u201d in Willson. Willson says, \u201cThere\u2019s one \u2018L\u2019 of a difference\u201d when people ask why the double \u201cL\u201d is used. If we meet a single \u201cL\u201d Wilson\u201d, we ask, \u201cWho kicked the \u2018L\u2019 out of you?\u201d I was raised through high school in Canada and a short stint in England. As a Navy brat and Seagull family (we followed father to all duty stations), we moved every three years or so, usually from coast to coast as my father was a line officer (Captain of several ships). After high school, in 1965, I read about a satellite college in Glendale, California that only cost $13.00 a semester. Of course that is where I became an immigrant and started college. I met my husband, Dale, in 1967. We married in 1970. Dale was also career Navy, so I was once again a Seagull. I took any job I could get and earned a Bachelor of Elementary Education, Master of Higher Education, and Bachelor of Asian Studies\/Japanese Language and Culture. I taught K-College for 20 years and was a WA State Social Worker for 14 years. I am an eternal student, love to read, learn, be around children, travel, explore, and meet new people. Whenever possible, I volunteer at Feiro Marine Life Center and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. We have three children and eight grandchildren. We are a very happy, blessed, diverse family. We have one homemade son and two ready-made daughters (Korean and Japanese). The girls are both American now, but one son-in-law is Ugandan. He and I are both \u201clegal aliens\u201d and carry permanent resident (green) cards. Our grandchildren are all different sizes, shapes, and colors. We are very blessed and have so much to be thankful for. I first heard of the Newcomers\u2019 Club many years ago in Canada. Since we were so often newcomers ourselves, we were visited by locals who offered us friendship and a lot of information about our new residence. Now, it is great to be a long-time resident welcoming and introducing newcomers to our beautiful Clallam County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Nancy Elwert<\/strong> was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. She earned her B.S. in education at Northern Illinois University where she met Warren the second month of our freshmen year. She received a M.S. Ed in special education at DePaul University and taught for eight years before her next career, motherhood and volunteering. We have two daughters, one spoiled granddaughter and a grand dog. After the girls left for college Nancy became a foster mom enjoying her babies for ten years. We moved to Sequim in 2013 for the weather and scenery and have met so many wonderful people. When not doing volunteering for Newcomers, CERT, Red Cross and the Guild for Seattle Children\u2019s Hospital she enjoys swimming, sewing, crafting, gardening and all the fun club activities<\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Dale E. Jackson: <\/strong>My wife and I moved to Sequim, WA in May 2023, migrating from Rancho Murieta, CA to be closer to our daughter who lives in Kent, WA, although our son still resides in Northern California. I attended UCSD, graduating in 1974, and completed some Post Graduate Education courses at the UCLA Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning. I have worked for over 40 plus years in Real Estate, first as a Redevelopment Planner for the City of Long Beach, CA and later as a Designated (SRPA\/SRA Appraisal Institute) Commercial and Industrial Property Appraiser. I ended my career with the Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, retiring in 2016. In 2006, I became a Licensed RE Broker with the State of California and have been active until February 2025. It\u2019s not certain that it will be renewed after this term.We thoroughly enjoy exploring and visiting many of the scenic locations around the Northwest Peninsula and Washington State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Joan Putnam: <\/strong> I am originally from Pennsylvania but was a Southern California gal for most of my life. I worked at San Diego State University for 30 years and had the privilege of serving as the Director of the Barron Veterans Center for 18 of those years. I moved to Sequim in July 2022 to be close to my daughter and my three teenage grandchildren. In addition to the Newcomers\u2019 Club, I\u2019m currently a member of the Grand Olympics Chorus, the Soroptimist Club in Port Angeles, serving on the board of directors, and I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I enjoy traveling, walking, antiquing, and theater. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Lani Butcher Smith<\/strong> was born and raised in western New York State, married in Key West, FL, lived most of her adult life in San Diego, CA, and moved with her husband, Gary, to Port Angeles, WA a few years ago. Her sister once asked her why she keeps moving to lands end. Having seen the four corners of the continental USA, she\u2019s found her home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Her corporate careers, lasting 25 years, were as a manager and trainer at Pacific Telephone and as a manager and technical writer at Xerox. She found her best career last, as a dog trainer, where for 13 years, she taught basic and advanced obedience classes, conducted private lessons, and was a certified evaluator for the American Kennel Club\u2019s Canine Good Citizen Program. She was a regular volunteer at a local animal shelter, where she worked with dogs who were waiting for adoption. She enjoys reading, especially mysteries, volunteering, and exploring this beautiful area with Gary and her dog, Ruff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Gary Allen Smith<\/strong> was born in Western New York State. He lives in Port Angeles with his wife, Lani, whom he married 50 years ago in Key West, Florida while Gary served in the US Navy. They relocated to the Olympic Peninsula in 2013 after Gary\u2019s retirement from a 30-year career in Software Engineering, working at several companies in Southern California. A graduate of the University of California San Diego, where he majored in Visual Arts and Computer Science, Gary spends most of his time between his extensive garden and greenhouse and his art studio, in which he is developing computer-based digital art and microcomputer-driven kinetic sculptures. He has been a member of the Newcomers\u2019 Club since 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n OLYMPIC NEWCOMERS CONSTITUTION<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n BY-LAWS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Olympic Newcomers’ Club board of directors holds ten regular meetings every year, plus any additional meetings required to manage the Club’s business. Any Newcomers’ Club member can attend and actively participate in these meetings. The board welcomes all input … Continue reading Board Vice President<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBoard Secretary <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBoard Member <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n