Contact Clearwater Clearwater 112 Little Market St. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Toll Free: 800-67-SLOOP Phone: 845-454-7673 Fax: 845-454-7953 Email: office@clearwater.org   Alphabetical Listing Pictures & Bios   Executive Director   Jeff Rumpf, Executive Director jeff@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x121   Bio   Administration   Contact the Administration department for all issues related to the purchasing of merchandise, accounts payable, and general information.   Amy Bonder, Office Manager larson@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x100   Bio   Roger D’Aquino, Financial Director roger@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x119   Bio   Catherine Stankowski, Office Administrator catherine@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x101   Bio   Captains   Contact the Captains for all information related to the Sloop’s functioning, as well as for information on being employed as a crewmember or apprentice.   Captain Samantha Heyman sam@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x140   Bio   Captain Nick Rogers captain@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x103   Bio   Clearwater Fall 2008 Crew   Clearwater’s Crew can be contacted by mail at the Clearwater main office. Messages for the crew can be left at 845-454-7673 x130.   Liz Strojny, 1st Mate Logan Livingston, 2nd Mate Julie Edwards, Cook   Bio Erik Fyfe, Engineer   Bio Parks Marion, Bosun   Bio Andrea Deyling, Deckhand Christopher Gray, Deckhand   Bio Graham Savio, Education Intern Alexia Witcombe, Education Intern   Bio Sophia DeNicola, Apprentice Elizabeth Stivison, Apprentice   Community Outreach & Events   Contact the Events department for all information regarding the Great Hudson River Revival and other festivals and events co-sponsored by or benefiting Clearwater.   Ron Aja, Events Director raja@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x102   Bio   Pam Ladds, Performer Logistics pamladds@earthlink.net   845-454-7673 x122        Development   Contact the Development department for all information regarding supporting Clearwater’s mission through sponsorships, planned giving, memberships, and corporate partnerships.   Christine Kane, CFRE, Development Director christine@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x118   Bio   Andrew Lenec, Director of Member & Volunteer Support Services andy@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 123   Natalie McKinstrie, Development Assistant natalie@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x120   Education   Contact the Education department for all information regarding our educational programs, volunteering on the sloops as an educator, and booking sails on the Clearwater or Mystic Whaler.   Dave Conover, Education Director dave@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x104   Bio   Dan Einbender, Beacon Tideline Discovery Program Director dan@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x117   Bio   Brian Mohan, Onboard Education Coordinator brian@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x105 Bio   Maija Niemistö, Onboard Education Coordinator maija@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x115   Bio   Eli Schloss, Tideline Discovery Program Director eli@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x106   Bio   Environmental Action   Contact our Environmental Action department for all information regarding Clearwater’s environmental advocacy, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance and environmental issues affecting the Hudson River, Hudson Valley, and New York State.   Manna Greene, Environmental Action Director mannajo@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x113   Bio   Katy Dunlap, Hudson River Watershed Alliance Coordinator katy@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x116   Bio   Victor-Pierre Melendez, Environmental Associate, Rondout Creek Watershed Council ( RCWC) Coordinator victor@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x112   Bio   Jen Rubbo, Fall Kill Watershed Coordinator jen@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x114   Bio     Alphabetical List   Ron Aja, Events Director raja@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x102   Bio   Amy Bonder, Office Manager larson@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x100   Bio   Dave Conover, Education Director dave@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x104   Bio   Roger D’Aquino, Financial Director roger@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x119   Bio   Katy Dunlap, Hudson River Watershed Alliance Coordinator katy@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x116   Bio   Dan Einbender, Beacon Tideline Discovery Program Director dan@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x117   Bio   Manna Greene, Environmental Action Director mannajo@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x113   Bio   Captain Samantha Heyman sam@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x140   Bio   Christine Kane, CFRE, Development Director christine@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x118   Bio   Pam Ladds, Performer Logistics pamladds@earthlink.net   845-454-7673 x122        Andrew Lenec, Director of Member & Volunteer Support Services andy@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 123   Natalie McKinstrie, Development Assistant natalie@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x120   Victor-Pierre Melendez, Environmental Associate, Rondout Creek Watershed Council ( RCWC) Coordinator victor@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x112   Bio   Brian Mohan, Onboard Education Coordinator brian@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x105   Maija Niemistö, Onboard Education Coordinator maija@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x115   Captain Nick Rogers captain@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x103   Bio   Jen Rubbo, Fall Kill Watershed Coordinator jen@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x114   Bio   Jeff Rumpf, Executive Director jeff@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x121   Bio   Eli Schloss, Tideline Discovery Program Director eli@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x106   Bio   Catherine Stankowski, Office Administrator catherine@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x101   Bio       Executive Director      Jeff Rumpf, Executive Director jeff@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x121  Jeff received his BS degree in environmental science from S.U.N.Y. Purchase, and his MS.ED degree in environmental education from the University of Northern Illinois. Jeff grew up in Nyack, a self-proclaimed Pete Seeger loving “Hudson River Rat” steeped in the nature, culture, and spirit of the Hudson. Jeff has over 20 years of experience in the outdoor education and youth development fields. The last 10 years he served as Executive Director for several award-winning initiatives. In 1997 he led the development of the Community YMCA branch in Somers NY. In 2000 he founded YMCA Camp Combe in Putnam Valley, NY. From 2002-2006 he ran “Little Heroes” Camp programs for the children of 9/11, including an organic farm and an adventure camp recently featured on the Learning Channel. Jeff, his wife Laurie and their three boys, Walker, Wilder, and Wyatt love the Hudson Valley and are passionate about the Clearwater mission and its wonderful people!     Administration      Amy Bonder, Office Manager larson@clearwater.org   x100  Amy came to Clearwater in the fall of 1996 after graduating with a Bachelor degree in English from Trinity College in Burlington VT. After 6 years of Vermont life, she wandered south to the Hudson Valley. She started here as Development Assistant and after a few years became Office Manager. When not at her desk in the main office, you can probably find her skiing in Sugarbush VT, camping on Lake George, paddling on Saranac Lake, or working on her house and building bonfires with her husband Scott and cat Doogan.        Roger D’Aquino, Financial Director roger@clearwater.org   x119  Roger came to Clearwater in September of 2007 after spending most of his career in the corporate and educational worlds of employment. He is very happy to be aboard the sloop after swimming the Hudson the last two summers. He is also happy to include both worlds of accounting and music into one great job, and looks forward to keeping the mission of Clearwater going strong for the next generation of environmentalists.        Catherine Stankowski, Office Administrator catherine@clearwater.org   x101  Catherine Stankowski, Clearwater’s Office Administrator, is from Canada. Since settling in the United States in 2003, she has fallen in love with the Hudson Valley and has taken to extolling its beauty and virtues to anyone who’ll listen. Catherine’s professional background is in volunteer and program coordination, and she’s worked in paid and voluntary capacities with organizations dedicated to strengthening communities and improving the quality of life for all people, including Housing Works in NYC and Best Buddies- Vrais Copains Canada in Toronto. When she’s not busy being an office maven, Catherine enjoys reading poetry aloud to her daughter, who has yet to show any sign of appreciating it.     Captains      Samantha Heyman, Captain sam@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x140  Born and raised in Newton, MA, she holds a USCG 500-ton Ocean Master License and a B.A. in Political Science from Lehigh University. After her twin brother, Leigh, got her into traditional sailing on Martha’s Vineyard, she started as an apprentice on Clearwater in 1994. She has sailed aboard the schooners Roseway, Ernestina, and Westward and has crossed both the Atlantic and Pacific on the Pride of Baltimore II. She has been through the Panama Canal twice and is captivated by such a feat of engineering. She sailed around the world as Chief Mate on the barque Picton Castle visiting the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Indonesia, Africa and the Indian Ocean. She was Captain on Clearwater for four years prior to that epic voyage, and has returned to the best education program on the seven seas. When not barking orders, she loves watching both live theater and old movies (the cheesy 80’s genre included). She has the best music collection around and isn’t afraid to dance to it (and dance well). She is very fond of the Red Sox, beautiful boats, a spotless galley, cheeseburgers, dogs and a good night’s sleep.        Nick Rogers, Captain captain@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x103  Captain Nick Rogers returned to Clearwater as relief Captain in October of 2007 and full Captain in January of 2008. During his previous stints on Clearwater, he worked as 2nd Mate during the 2005 season, and as Engineer & Bosun before that. Nick received 2 degrees from the University of Rochester in physics and applied mathematics. He has experience working with youth as an Environmental Educator and Trail Crew Leader with the Student Conservation Association and as an Educator with a YMCA camp in New England.     Development      Christine Kane, CFRE, Development Director christine@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x118  Christine Kane is Clearwater’s Development Director and as such, oversees all of the organization’s fundraising and communication efforts. She holds a B.S. in Forestry from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY and spent the first half of her career working on issues ranging from hazardous waste site identification to non-point source pollution to land conservation. Since she always found herself raising the funds necessary to undertake these many programs, Christine decided to shift focus and concentrate her energies full-time on raising the monies needed to fund a variety of non-profit organizations. As a result she now has almost 20 years of experience in fund development and communications and holds the CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) credential, the only internationally recognized, professional credential for fundraising professionals.   Christine has served in a number of senior-level management positions during her career, is skilled in all areas of fund development and has raised millions of dollars for a variety of not-for-profit organizations. She’s delighted to be able to combine her environmental sensibilities with her fundraising and marketing skills at Clearwater.   A Hudson Valley native, Christine, her husband and their two children, spend most of their time (along with most of their money) renovating their circa 1868 home in northern Dutchess County. When she can manage to tear herself away from the sawdust and plaster, you’ll probably find her bicycling along country roads, reading in a comfy chair or buying one-of-kind items at auctions (which her husband will promptly say that they don’t need).     Environmental Action      Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Action Director mannajo@clearwater.org   x113  Manna Jo Greene, Clearwater’s Environmental Action Director since 2000, was formerly the Recycling Coordinator/Educator for the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency for more than 10 years and a registered Critical Care Nurse for 22 years. She holds an AAS in Nursing, a BA in biology (pre-med) from SUNY/New Paltz, and completed course work toward a Masters in Environmental Sciences at Bard College. A lifelong environmental professional and community activist, Manna avidly supports collaborative land use planning and problem solving. Working to promote sustainable agriculture and green building and landscaping practices, she teaches communities how to integrate environmental preservation, economic prosperity (based on quality of life indicators), and social equity using effective communication. Manna also serves as Councilwoman on the Rosendale Town Board.        Katy Dunlap, Hudson River Watershed Alliance Coordinator katy@clearwater.org   x116  Before docking at Clearwater in January 2007, Katy Dunlap lived in the Finger Lakes where she established an environmental non-profit organization devoted to citizen awareness and participation in local and regional issues. While still a new environmental organization, support for the Finger Lakes Environmental Network is growing, and she remains active as the President of the Board of Directors. Katy earned her B.S. in Environmental Science, with a concentration in policy and management, from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse. Recognizing the need to effectuate change in the policy arena, she continued her education at Vermont Law School and earned a J.D., as well as a Masters in Environmental Law. Katy is admitted to practice law in the state of New York and brings varied experience in watershed protection and environmental policy to Clearwater. Thriving on all issues water-related, she is a passionate advocate for protecting, restoring, and conserving the water resources of the Mighty Hudson.        Victor-Pierre Melendez, Environmental Associate, Rondout Creek Watershed Council ( RCWC) Coordinator victor@clearwater.org   x112  Victor-Pierre Melendez is a six-year Hudson Valley resident who received his B.S. in Environmental Science & Marine Biology from the University of Tampa, FL. He has interned with the City of Kingston’s Economic Development Department, performing residential and commercial space inventories in Uptown Kingston. Later, working for Scenic Hudson as a Community Outreach Coordinator in the Ulster, Westchester and Columbia County areas, Victor educated communities about the importance of applying sound waterfront principles in newly proposed developments, sat on the Diversity Committee for the New York State Outreach Education Association and served as a Board Member for Sustainable Hudson Valley. As an entrepreneur, he managed a café and art gallery that hosted many awareness events for the communities of Kingston’s Waterfront district. Currently consulting for Clearwater, Victor is the project coordinator for the Rondout Creek Watershed Council while he prepares to submit his Master’s thesis for review with the Center of Environmental Policy at Bard College in fall of 2008.        Jen Rubbo, Fall Kill Watershed Coordinator jen@clearwater.org   x114  Born and raised in the Hudson Valley, Jen traveled north to Syracuse to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology. Sick of the long, cold winters of Central New York she moved with her husband Mike, to Louisiana, where she dodged water moccasins and giant mosquitoes in the wetlands of the Deep South. Her feet and interests firmly stuck in the muddiness of wetland ecology, she continued her studies at Penn. State where she spent four years learning about riparian restoration and watershed issues, before completing her Master’s degree in Ecology. Eight years, three dogs and two kids later, Jen and Mike decided to return to the Northeast and settle back in the Hudson Valley. Jen started working at Clearwater in January of 2006 as Events Assistant, wrangling volunteers for Revival. She is now applying her considerable skills to the protection of the Fall Kill creek, and chasing after her two children.     Education      Dave Conover, Education Director dave@clearwater.org   x104  Dave Conover first joined Clearwater as an onboard educator in 1991 and has worked off and on with the organization in various roles, including Navigator editor, grant officer and even storyteller at the Clearwater Festival. He received a BS in forest biology from SUNY ESF and an MS in environmental studies with a teaching certification from Antioch University New England. Some of his unusual experiences include removing ticks from deer as part of a Lyme disease study, portraying a nineteenth century schoolmaster, and traveling to Russia and Syria as part of environmental exchange programs. Dave has been a teacher at an environmental program for high school seniors and is currently an adjunct instructor at Marist College.        Dan Einbender, Beacon Tideline Discovery Program Director dan@clearwater.org   x117  Dan Einbender began working on the Sloop as a cook and educator back in the early eighties, and he has been singing and teaching for Clearwater ever since. He is currently coordinating Clearwater’s new Tideline Discovery Program in Beacon.        Brian Mohan, Onboard Education Coordinator brian@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x105  Brian A. Mohan, onboard educator, has been floating around the Hudson River Valley for years. A pouring rain, forty wet boy scouts, and a captain who noticed him wearing foul weather gear set the scene. Five minutes on the helm, and he was hooked. Coming up thought the ranks of volunteer crew, bosun and second mate, he has found a home away from on the big green sloop. The lifestyle meshes well with his dual passions for sailing and photography. He is current looking for volunteers to sail with him. You know anyone?        Maija Niemistö, Onboard Education Coordinator maija@clearwater.org   845-454-7673 x115  Maija was born to a family of musician in the heartland, far from the sea. Minnesota was her first hailing port. School, university and adventures took her to Finland, Wisconsin and Lebanon. She followed the smell of sweet salt air and ran away to see the sea aboard her 28-foot sloop. Clearwater appeared on the horizon and she jumped at the chance to combine her interests in music, sailing, teaching, water ecology, environmental advocacy and pumping the bilge.        Eli Schloss, Tideline Discovery Director eli@clearwater.org   x106  Eli was born at a very young age to a female mother in the fair state of Indiana. Schooled and corn-fed he departed for the big city only to fall in with the wrong crowd. They hung out by the dock, tying knots and climbing things using unseemly or archaic language. They would yell at kids things like “haul away” and “avast you land lubbering scuds”. Permanently fixed to their salty spirit by shared spider crabs, speaking sea robins and estuarine adventures, his fate was sealed. He roamed from the brackish in Baltimore to the salty mists of Maine. To his eternal benefit, the ravages of age (and love) brought forth a beacon from the shore. He navigated a course to the tideline for a wife and babe. Eli still has the brackish water in his veins though, and still bellows to the children a gravelly “ahoy”.     Community Outreach & Events      Ron Aja, Outreach Events Director raja@clearwater.org   x102  Ron Aja has worked in professional and academic theatre since receiving an under graduate degree in theatre design at Humboldt State University in California and an MFA degree in Performing Arts Management from the City University of New York at Brooklyn College. After earning his graduate degree he accepted a position as a union representative for Actor’s Equity Association. In NYC he managed and produced Off-Off Broadway theatre and was active in the downtown alternative theatre scene. Ron and his wife, actress and director, Lesley Ann Sawhill have since relocated to Upstate New York where they continue to produce theatre, festivals and events having built a new community for themselves and their son Brandon Cobalt. Ron is currently the Outreach Events Director at Hudson River Sloop Clearwater where he has produced concerts, festivals and special events as well as Clearwater’s music and environmental festival, the Great Hudson River Revival.     Crew (Fall 2008)      Julie Edwards, Cook Julie believes in time travel and the power of onions. She has been known to stow away in cargo ships to Hawaii and Seattle. Things grow in her hands, and the weak tremble at her approach. She does not own any creepy horseshoe crabs. She can recite “It just doesn’t matter!” in a great Bill Murray voice. She is also arguably the best boat cook in existence, EVER.        Erik Fyfe, Engineer While Erik came to the boat with aspirations of being an education intern, his fate quickly changed upon the discovery of his perfect hands and miraculous touch. He keeps the Clearwater engine as happy and boisterous as a llama in a cage match with a platypus. Erik is a connoisseur of biodiesel, bare feet, and meatless smorgasbords. While sometimes mistaken for a Viking, he is, in fact, a Georgia peach.        Parks Marion, Bosun Bosun by day, superhero by night, Parks also enjoys teaching dance, climbing, cooking (sometimes), and learning new things. Four years ago Parks came and worked aboard Clearwater as an Apprentice and Education Intern now he’s back: First in the Spring of 2008 as Deckhand, now as Bosun for the Fall season. After a year of teaching in a regular school environment he’s looking for other ways to get kids excited about learning through experiential education.        Christopher Gray, Deckhand Christopher was born and raised in Syracuse, NY and landed in Seattle after dropping out of two colleges. He lived in Seattle for eight years where he dropped out of a third college. He came to NYC via New Orleans two years ago, where he met a real nice girl from Seattle who was (and luckily still is) cooking aboard the Clearwater. He has spent a lot of time in and around the boat since then and now here he is in his first season, having graduated from being a Deckhand’s apprentice in Spring of 2008 to being a full-fledged Deckhand for the Fall season.        Alexia Witcombe, Education Intern Affectionately known onboard by her pseudonym “X”, Alexia is a true humanitarian and lover of all things sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. X’s favorite pastimes include running out onto the playing field during sporting events, collecting oversize posters of her favorite celebrities, and clipping her fingernails.