Meet Our Volunteers
PROGRAMS
BOAST Chair, Lynda Romeo
When I moved to Portland 3 years ago, I rekindled my desire for sailing. Luckily I heard about OWSA & joined right away. Since then I have been a Boast participant for 2 years, served as the Boast coordinator since 2023, take advantage of WNS, participate as race crew and volunteered for race committee boat. Through my OWSA connections I have earned my 101, 103 & 104 certifications, gone on week long flotilla sailing adventures and most importantly made wonderful friends throughout the sailing community!
BOAST First Mate, Position Available
If you are interested in this position contact boast@owsa.net
Email: boastfm@owsa.net
Boat Wrangler, Kate Gillespie
I fell in love with boats as a child. First canoes, then at summer camp on Vashon Island in Puget Sound I transferred my infatuation to a 17 Lightning sailboat. Lovesick, I began wandering through unguarded marinas to drool over the captive boats!
Now that Im retired, I admire my friends sailing skills and their boats. I am an intermediate sailor who longs to sail on blue waters where I can swim or snorkel without needing a wetsuit. In the last year I participated on two flotillas: in the San Juan Islands/Canadian Gulf for 10 days (Meetup) and the British Virgin Islands (OWSA) for 8 days.
Skippers, let me know how I can help other women fall in love with your sailboat?
Email: boatwrangler@owsa.net
Fleet Manager, Laura Gadley
Laura learned to sail on a daysailer called Whistler on Lake Pymatuning in NE Ohio and initially sailed with her family while living on a 42' steel hulled junk rigged schooner. Laura has sailed for 6 weeks in French Polynesia, several trips to the San Juan Islands, sailed from LaConner through Deception Pass and sailed from Port Hardy, BC northwest around Vancouver Island to Victoria, BC.
Laura joined OWSA in 2014, participated in Wednesday Night Sails, volunteered as a guppy for several education classes, is a First Mate, and has had the opportunity to take many of the OWSA classes. Laura has experience maintaining and painting boats, she is pretty handy and believes no task is too small or too hard.
Laura has spent a lot of time on canoes, sailing with tarps, sailing on all sizes of boats and feels very comfortable around water. She is a strong swimmer and has her SCUBA certificates. Laura is a HR Manager in her professional life, has a strong work ethic and enjoys building solid working relationships with others.
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
Email: skippervetter@owsa.net
EDUCATION
Race Captain, Teresa Long
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, Tia Ballard
Bio coming soon
Email: classregistrar@owsa.net
First Mate Coordinator, Colleen La Civita
Bio coming soon
Email: firstmate@owsa.net
Guppy Coordinator, Lisa Glynn
Bio coming soon
Email: guppy@owsa.net
MEMBERSHIP/SOCIAL
Volunteer Coordinator, Cori Driver
Email: volunteer@owsa.net
Membership Chair, Sarah Walter
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, Jasmine Stark
Email: nautidrinks@owsa.net
TECHNOLOGY
Communications Coordinator, Julie Durst
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
The Social Media Coordinator position is currently open.
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, Carol Baker
Email: merchandise@owsa.net
