The Southern Region SARE Administrative Council welcomed some new members during the AC meeting in Austin, Texas in August.

Christine Fortuin serves as the new Environmental Protection Agency representative for the council, taking over the role from Lora Schroeder who is retiring. We thank Lora for her years of contributions to the AC and we will miss her tremendously. However, we are excited to welcome Christine and we look forward to working with her during her terms of service.

Christine is a life scientist with EPA, Region 4 Pesticides Section, where she has been since 2003.  She is a graduate of Florida International University (FIU) with a MS in Environmental Sciences.  Prior to EPA, she worked as a research assistant for FIU’s Community Tropical Ecosystem Management Project. Her area of research focused on honeybee management and the effects of Africanized honeybees in Mayan farming communities of Mexico. Her work with EPA Pesticides Section has been focused on agricultural worker safety including outreach to Hispanic farm worker communities, certification and training of pesticide applicators, agricultural inspector training, as well as endangered species protection and pollinator protection.

Pauline Thiessen was recently elected to serve on the AC as a Producer. She will serve on the Producer Grant Committee, whose task is to establish goals and criteria for the evaluation of proposals and the review of producer grants.

Pauline is the produce manager of Ozark Natural Foods, a co-op in Fayetteville, Ark. She has worked at the co-op for over 10 years and is very active in supporting local food producers. She acts as the liaison between local farmers and Ozark Natural Foods.

Brennan Washington serves on the AC as an NGO. He handles all of the farm planning and operations of Phoenix Gardens in Lawrenceville, Ga. He presided over the construction of the gardens and takes care of the planning, care and harvesting of the crops. Brennan is a member of Southern University's Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute and is currently acting as a mentor in the Georgia Organics New Farmer Mentoring Program.

The term of membership on the AC is normally three years, with the opportunity to serve two terms. Welcome new members!