Meet Our Volunteers
PROGRAMS
BOAST Co-Chair, Robin Smith
Email: boast@owsa.net
BOAST Co-Chair, Julie Schumann
Bio on Flag Officers page.
Email: rearcommodore@owsa.net
Boat Wrangler, Kathy Souhrada
Contact Kathy if you would like to become a WNS or Race Clinic Skipper.
Email: boatwrangler@owsa.net
Cruising
Position open, contact programs@owsa.net if interested.
Interested? Email: programs@owsa.net
Fleet Manager, 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@owas.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
Position Open
Email: racing@owsa.net
Class Registrar, Sarah Haffly
Email: classregistrar@owsa.net
First Mate Coordinator, Colleen LaCivita
Contact Colleen if you are interested in becoming an OWSA First Mate.
Email: firstmate@owsa.net
Guppy Coordinator, Lisa Glynn
Email: guppy@owsa.net
MEMBERSHIP/SOCIAL
Volunteer Coordinator, Kathi Brandt
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, Kris Freitag
Email: nautidrinks@owsa.net
OPERATIONS/TECHNOLOGY
Communications Coordinator
Position Open, contact operations@owsa.net if interested.
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, Karen Ricoy
Email: socialmedia@owsa.net
Technology Coordinator, Gillian Gates
I grew up sailing dinghies at Willamette Sailing Club (WSC) and gradually got into sailing and racing bigger boats. Im now delighted to be regular crew on J/120 Pathfinder, sometimes crew with J/24 Pinch Point and J/121 Riva (and with whoever else will have me aboard!), get out in dinghies in my spare time, and have a Catalina 25 of my own. After nearly two decades in healthcare, I retired from the medical field and went to work in Operations at REI with the goal of spending more time outside and helping others to do the same. Im now the General Manager at WSC, and am thrilled to be back home. I volunteer with several local sailing groups, and love doing my part to bridge the two Portland rivers.
Email: tech@owsa.net
MARKETING
Fundraising Coordinator, Open
Contact marketing@owsa.net if you are interested in this position.
