Meet Our Volunteers
PROGRAMS
BOAST Co-Chair, Dawn Tacker
I'm a recent initiate to the Seasterhood. I began sailing in 2023, taking a class with three friends. From there, I found OWSA and spent the summer participating in WNS. I kept learning and growing, taking all available classes at OWSA and completing my ASA series at San Juan Sailing. I joined BOAST in 2024 and sailed as often as possible with my seasters. OWSA is a special place, and I'm happy to help out as BOAST Co-Coordinator for 2025.
Email: boast@owsa.net
BOAST Co-Chair, Kathy Clevenger
Bio on Directors page.
Email: boast@owsa.net
Boat Wrangler, Kathy Souhrada
Bio Coming soon
Email: boatwrangler@owsa.net
Cruising, Beven Peters
Bio Coming soon
Email:No email, use form Contact Us
Fleet Manager Apprentice, Zumi Sims
I love Ocean. I was born and raised on Guam, I enjoy the sun, the salty air, and have a healthy respect for mother nature. I am an only child who grew up to be a mechanical engineer; I love to share, solve puzzles, and tinker. To stay busy, I volunteer teaching grade school art classes and helping out with the high school sports teams.
My sailing adventure started when my husband declared that sailing around the world was our retirement goal. I asked excitedly, Will we be on a cruise? He says, No. I asked hopefully, …Will I get to live on a barge while you tug me and my treasures (that you call junk)? He says, No. We are going to sail around the world…. On a sailboat. You may ask, Did we own a boat? Nope. Have we sailed before? Nope. Do you know why he …? Nope. Maybe, he thought his feisty bride would enjoy being (sequestered in small living quarters traveling around the world) on the ocean that she loves for five years. Or, maybe he thought it would be a clever way to declutter her ADHD fueled collection of future projects. Whatever the rationale was… I had already vowed to support his retirement plans, because he so loyally supported my ambitions during my career. So I signed up for ASA 101.
During my first sailing class, the instructor recommended I check out OWSA. When I heard that they needed a Fleet Manager in training, I jumped at the opportunity to learn about the boats in my own way - through working on the fleet. I may not have many hours or experience on the water, but I am enjoying being a part of a great community and learning from nurturing mentors - the big sisters I always wished I had.
Email: fleetmanager@owsa.net
Wednesday Night Sail (WNS) Coordinator, Letha Pease
WNS coordinator Letha Pease began sailing in February 2011. Her first experience was on the Columbia River in Portland on a friends 34 boat in a cold 20 knot wind with gusts to 25. That didnt scare her away from the sport and she began crewing on boats across the country, from the Chesapeake Bay to the San Francisco Bay, and many lakes in between. Most of Lethas sailing experience is on the Columbia River. She has sailed to Beacon Rock and the Pacific Ocean. She has been crew for SOS and SYSCO races in Portland. Lethas real love is for cruising though. She dreams of buying her own boat and sailing more of the West Coast and eventually crossing the Pacific Ocean.
Email: wns@owsa.net
Skipper Vetter, Neonta Bell
I have been sailing all my life. I am currently a member of Eugene Yacht Club (as were my parents), but joined OWSA to be able to sail in the winter months ( Fern Ridge Reservoir gets drained in October.) I enjoy racing, cruising, and delivering boats. I have helped a friend sail their boat to Mexico, and bashed back too!
I love the open ocean! I am currently volunteering as the skipper vetter for OWSA. I love OWSA and the empowerment it gives ladies to learn and grow in the fun sport of sailing!
Email: skippervetter@owsa.net
EDUCATION
Race Captain, Teresa Long
Race Co-Captain Needed for 2025!
I have dreamed of retiring on a sailboat for many years. In the spring and summer of 2020 I took ASA 101, 102 & 104, joined OWSA, and enrolled in sailtime. I had access to a 25 foot Beneteau First and off I went on the river to practice my new skills. In January of 2021 I started sailing on Sunday's as a crew member of WyEas. I was Hooked! In 2022 I charted my first sailboat in the San Juans with the first OWSA ladies cruise. She was a Jenneau 401 Sun Odyssey named Spirited Away. I had such a great time that I chartered her again for the 2023 San Juan ALL ladies cruise.
I continued to race in the Thursday night cruising series and in 2023 I took over the position of Race Captain for OWSA and ran my first Race Clinic and am continuing as Race Captain for 2024.
In June of this year I bought my first sailboat, Miss Molly, she is a Seaward 25. I am currently referring to her as The University of Miss Molly, since she is proving to be an exceptional teacher of boat ownership. Look for out on the water or at Rose City Yacht Club where Miss Molly is moored.
Email: racing@owsa.net
Class Registrar
Open Position!
Email: classregistrar@owsa.net
First Mate Coordinator, Colleen LaCivita
Email: firstmate@owsa.net
Guppy Coordinator, Lisa Glynn
Email: guppy@owsa.net
MEMBERSHIP/SOCIAL
Volunteer Coordinator, Cori Driver
I was born and raised in Oregon but didn't start sailing the PNW until a year ago when I joined OWSA. My love for sailing started over 20 years ago when my family started cruising amazing islands in the Caribbean. I was so fortunate to go to sailing school at San Juan Sailing where my brothers and sisters and I got our bareboat 101, 103 & 104 certifications. Since joining OWSA last summer, I have learned about racing, met amazing women, and discovered the nuances of sailing in cooler/windier weather. I have had the opportunity to join the BOAST program and have been growing my skipper skills tremendously. My short-term goal is to charter and skipper in the Caribbean with friends and my long-term goal is to own a boat in the next 5 years!
Email: volunteer@owsa.net
Membership Chair, Joanna Volkoff
Joanna was introduced to sailing years ago by a good friend who had been sailing for decades in the PNW and around the world. She learned some basics on the Columbia River and loved being out on the water, learning about currents, reading the wind and learning how to maneuver a boat while connecting with nature. As life became busier, she took a break from sailing. A few years ago, she was reignited with the passion for sailing again. She participated in a few sailing flotilla trips in the San Juan Islands and Canada and fell back in love with the activity. She joined OWSA in 2023 to expand her education and involvement in the community. She has participated in Wednesday Night Sails and other groups in the Portland region, and is planning on expanding her knowledge with certification classes. When she is not sailing, she is enjoying the beautiful PNW, hiking, kayaking, exploring, skiing, snow shoeing, gardening, traveling, experimenting with cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She looks forward to connecting with others in the community and enjoying future sailing trips and explorations.
Email: membership@owsa.net
Fireside Coordinator - Carisa Bohus - :
Carisa Bohus, (Kah reese sah Bow hooosh!) joined OWSA in 2010 and has been learning how to really feel the wind ever since. I appreciate the many interesting areas OWSA brings to the membership, like volunteering at the Boat Show, and Sail for the Cause, as well as taking OWSA classes and attending sailing community talks. I love the monthly meetings and have learned so much from all my sailing sisters. Being in the BOAT/BOAST program has been a great way to get more time on the water.
Email: fireside@owsa.net
Nauti Drinks Coordinator, Lisa Becker
Email: nautidrinks@owsa.net
OPERATIONS/TECHNOLOGY
Communications Coordinator, Julia Tucker
Bio coming soon!
Email: communications@owsa.net
Webmaster, Judith Lebzelter
Judith always promised herself that she would get back to sailing which she fondly remembered from the Lake George, New York holidays of her childhood. Too much time passed, but then she found OWSA and BOAST, which was great for showing how to make it happen and to meet great people too! So now, she is trying to help out as webmaster. Let her know if you want anything posted or removed, find any problems or have any other ideas about the site.
Email: webmaster@owsa.net
Social Media Coordinator, Lauri DeLaczay
I'm a newer sailor with two college kids, hubby, and a dog (and two cats we barely see). I love the outdoors and have walked several long distance walks in Spain (El Camino), California (800 miles on the Cali Mission Trail), and about 3/4 of the Oregon Coast Trail southbound so far. I've taken a dingy course @2018, sailed a week-long regatta with my son in St. Bart in 2022 on a Beneteau when he was on gap year, participated in most of the 2024 Wednesday night sails, and earned my ASA 101 in September. There is something magical about being on the water, and I'm hoping to get more sailing experience under my belt in the coming years.
Email: socialmedia@owsa.net
Technology Coordinator, Leticia Christopherson
I lived in Ecuador until I was 8 when my family moved to the US. After living in Arizona my family ended up settling in South Dakota. My husband and two daughters decided to move to Oregon in 2014. I love the PNW because of its beauty and how much there is to do here. In 2023, I decided to check out OWSA after a friend's recommendation. I took the Basic 101 class in January and I was hooked!
Email: tech@owsa.net
MARKETING
Merchandise Chair, Open
Open Position!
Email: merchandise@owsa.net
