MEET THE ACS/PS BOARD

Committed to Cetacean Conservation

The American Cetacean Society (ACS) is a non-profit, volunteer membership organization headquartered in San Pedro, California with 7 regional chapters in the U.S. and members in over 20 countries around the world. Founded in 1967, ACS is the oldest whale conservation organization on the planet. Our mission is to protect whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats through research, education, and conservation actions.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Uko Gorter, President

Ann Stateler, Vice President, Vason Hydrophone Project (VHP) Coordinator

Kelsey Moreno, Secretary, Newsletter Editor

Candice Emmons, Treasurer

Hella Cascorbi, Fundraising Events Co-Chair

Odin Lonning, Fundraising Events Co-Chair, VHP Associate

Stephanie Norman, Research Chair

Bonnie Gretz, Member At-Large

Bonnie met the Southern Residents in 1994 on an Earthwatch adventure at The Center for Whale Research. She met Taku and Lummi the first day, up close and personal, and has spent the next 16 years doing whatever possible to help them. She plans to spend the rest of her life doing the same!! They're all my favorites!

Pam Martin, Member At-Large

ASSOCIATES

Joe Olson, Past President, VHP Associate

Diane Allen, Webmaster

The ocean has always been an integral part of Diane's life . Although she grew up playing along the S. California shore, her first introduction to the idea of cetaceans as social beings who need defending occurred when she was a young teen and Corky was spirited out of Marineland in the middle of the night by Sea World. While living in Kona in the early 90s, one of her favorite activities was to lay down on the bow pulpit when going out sport fishing with her wassbund. She wanted to get as close as possible to the spinner dolphins as they rode the bow wave. The dolphins were really good at sharing. Sometimes they would be stacked 5 or 6 deep, and they took turns riding for a while, then peeling off so that the next one could take a turn. One of the things that attracted DIane to Puget Sound was the marine life; humpbacks, Dalls, lags, seals and sea lions, and sea birds, in addition to the always fascinating SRKW. She chooses to make ACS the cetacean conservation organization that she participates in because of ACS's mission of promoting conservation via public education and outreach.