Meet the Narragansett Chapter Committee Members and Trip Leaders

(Our Chapter has about 70 leaders and committee volunteers.)

Leaders - send in a profile.
Members can update their profiles and photos anytime they wish by contacting the webmaster.

Jump to:
Tom E. Mike K. Brian P.

Mike M. Al Di. Mark D.

Chris T. Paul W. Chris S. Denise P.

Robin K. Carol B. Margie P. Ray B.

John F. Bonnie E. Mary Alice

Scott D. Judy V. Tom F.

Tom Eagan

Chapter Position: Treasurer, Past Chapter Chair, Co-Chair Family Outing Committee
Residence: North Kingstown
Occupation: Law Firm Administrator
In my spare time: Play golf and bike in the spring/summer/fall, in winter, ski and enjoy mountaineering.
Favorite places: Northern White Mountains, Myrtle Beach.
Favorite piece of gear: Micro Spikes, 9 iron.
Favorite trail: East Pond Trail, NH - a very nice walk in the woods.
Favorite quotes: "Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered with defeat, than to take rank with those poor spirits; that neither enjoy much or suffer much because they live in the twilight that knows not victory or defeat" - Teddy Roosevelt.

Mike Krabach

Chapter Positions: Sea Kayaking subchair, Chapter Webmaster, past Bicycle co-subchair
Residence: Cumberland
Occupation: Retired Engineer
Native of: Michigan
Best recent book read is: "Sustainable Energy - without the hot air" by David JC MacKay
Favorite music: Classical piano, Favorite artist Valentina Lisitsa
Your nickname or trail name: None that I have been told about.
Favorite accomplishment: 18,000 miles of bicycle touring.
Favorite gear: Camera
Favorite trail: Pacific Coast Bicycle Trail
Favorite camping area: Above 11,000 ft in the High Sierra.
Websites: www.krabach.info, www.kayakaccessri.info

Brian Phillips

Chapter Position: Co-Subchair of Technical Climbing.
Residence: South Kingstown.
Occupation: Climbing bum (former computer geek)
In my spare time I: Climb, climb, climb.
Best recent book read is: "Beckoning Silence" by Joe Simpson
Favorite route is: Moby Grape, Cannon Cliff
Favorite quote: Advanced age is...Only climb easy climbs with pretty women or pretty climbs with easy women.
Favorite place:: Bugaboo Provincial Park, BC
Website is: www.climbri.com

Mike Martin

Chapter Position: Local and Northern hike leader
Residence: Riverside
Occupation: Emergency Medical Technician
Native of: New York
In my spare time: When not hiking, Sea Kayaking the Maine coast
Places hiked: Wales (Mt Snowdan), Peru (Maccu Piccu), Colorado (West Maroon Trail), and the White Mountains
Favorite person: Teddy Roosevelt
Favorite quote: I'd rather be upside down in my kayak than right side up at my desk.

Al DiOrio

Chapter Position: lead Local hikes
Residence: Hopkinton
Occupation: Surveyor
Little known fact about you: I'm a bit restless when I'm not in a favorite place.
Favorite place is: Whenever I'm not sure I can hold it together enough to take the next step...
Things you admire: A cool head in the face of adversity
Favorite quote: "The zebra wakes every morning and knows he must out run the fastest lion. The lion wakes every morning and knows he must out run the slowest zebra. Anyway you look at it... whether you're a zebra or a lion, when you get up in the morning, you better be ready to run."
Website is: www.awdrls.com

Mark Dennen

Chapter Position: Communications Co-chair
Residence: Lincoln
Occupation: Environmental Geologist
Favorite activity: Solo Cross Country Biking.
Past Bike Tours: Canada, England, France, Spain, Andorra, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Leichtenstein, Czech Republic.
In my spare time I: Teach and study martial arts, raise 2 girls, practice zen, teach sunday school and ride my bike.
Things you may not know about me: I met my wife as a stunt performer in a theatre group.
Languages you speak: Spanish, Mandarin and occassionally a bit of English

Chris Turgeòn

Chapter Position: Past Young Members sub-chair, Local Hikes Leader
Favorite place is: Garmisch Germany, and Mount Washington
I have these pets: One Cat
Languages you speak: German
Favorite trail: Kings Ravine
Favorite camping food: Mac and Cheese

Paul Wynn

Chapter Position: Lead Local Hikes in the East Bay Area.
Residence: Portsmouth
Occupation: Engineer
I am a native of: Pensylvania
I have these pets: A Golden Retriever that tries to convince you that he doesn't get ANY attention at home.
Favorite place is: Anywhere in NH above 2500 feet
Languages you speak: American Sign Language
Favorite quote: "There is one in every crowd, and I am usually it"
Favorite gear: My water bottle and pocket survival kit. Anything else just makes it easier.
Favorite trail: Shhhhsh, it's a secret. I don't want everyone to know it, then it wouldn't be my favorite anymore. (But if you ask nicely, I'll share.)

Chris Shafer

Chapter Position:Activities Chair. Lead Trails projects, Skiing, Hiking, and Flatwater paddling activities.
Residence: Wakefield
Occupation: environmental scientist
I am a native of: Binghamton, New York
Favorite avocation: I especially enjoy doing and organizing/supervising trail maintenance projects.
In my spare time I: Enjoy working on puzzles (crossword, Soduku, jumble, etc.
I have these pets: one very friendly mutt- Sassi
I have this many siblings: one sister.
Favorite music: I enjoy hearing symphonies perform classical music.
Things you admire: Dependable/organized volunteers and friends.

Denise Poyer

Chapter Position: Northern Hikes, Flat water paddles, Conservation programs, Family programs, Local Leadership Training, Mountain Leadership School
Residence: Richmond
Occupation: Program Director for a Watershed Association
Favorite place is: Upper Wood River in Arcadia Mgmt Area
My mentor: My husband, Ed
Favorite gear: Icebreaker wool shirt
Favorite trail: John Muir Trail, CA
Favorite camping food: Chicken and stuffing

Robin Kuznitz

Chapter Position: Membership Chair
Residence: Newport
Occupation: Office Manager
I am a native of: New York
In my spare time I: Bike, hike and sail
Favorite place is: In the middle of the woods, anywhere in the world
My hero: My mother, Kathy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
My mentor: My husband, Marvin
Things you admire: Kindness, compassion, acceptance and tolerance
Favorite quote: "Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."—Albert Einstein
Favorite gear: My well worn and broken in hikng boots

Herrick Spencer

Chapter Position: hikes leader; past subchair local hikes
Residence: Pawtucket
Occupation: Retired
Chapter activities: Biking, hiking and kayaking.
Favorite avocation: Communicating with, spending time with people.
Favorite place is: Manhattan Beach, California
Best recent book read is: "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Favorite music or musician: Country/Western
Things you admire: The character trait - consideration for others.
Favorite quote: "Life is like a ten speed bicycle, most of us have gears we never use." - Charles M Schulz
Favorite trail food: peanut butter and jam sandwich

Margie Parsons

Chapter Position: hikes leader
Residence: Barrington
Occupation: social worker
Favorite avocation: Visiting National Parks.
Favorite place is: In my kayak at sunrise.
Recent good read: "The Last Season" by Eric Blehn
Things you admire: Exhuberance and patience.
Favorite trail: Usually the one I just finished.

Ray Bucacci

Chapter Position: Leader Sea Kayaking
Residence: Coventry
Occupation: Machinist/Programmer
I am a native of: Italy
Favorite avocation: To enlighten others.
In my spare time I: bike, hike, kayak
Little known fact about you: I am perfect.
Favorite place is: By the ocean.
My hero: Mike Krabach (I deny any influence. Ed.)
Languages you speak: Rhode Islandese
Favorite quote: We are all going to die ! ! !
Favorite trail: Falling Waters trail, N.H.
Favorite camping food: Good food with good people.

John Feather

Chapter Position: Local hikes leader
Residence: Greenville
Occupation: Brokers Admin Asst.
I am a native of: Lincoln, RI
Favorite avocation: Leading hikes for the AMC.
Favorite place is: Belgrade Lakes, ME
Best recent book read is: "Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of NH"
Favorite quote: Life is 10% what you make it, and 90% how you take it.
Favorite gear: Camera and sunglasses.
Favorite trail: Knife Edge Trail, Mt Katahdin & Monte Rosa Trail, Monadnock

Bonnie England

Chapter Position: Chapter Chair, Local Hikes Leader, Member Trails Committee
Residence: Wakefield
Occupation: Owner, Dog Hiking Business
In my spare time I: Hike, Kayak, Garden, Quilt, volunteer at Waterfire.
Favorite places are: Lakes District, England, and Abaco, Bahamas
Best recent book read is: "Notes from a Small Island" by Bill Bryson
Proudest Accomplishment: Completed Avon Marathon and a Half Walk for Breast Cancer 2009.
Favorite trail: Rhode Island's North South Trail

Mary Alice Smith

Chapter Position: Hike leader
Residence: Newport
Occupation: Mostly retired fundraiser for non-profits, now yoga teacher.
In my spare time I: love to watch birds, walk in the surf, explore new scenic outdoor places, do Sun salutations.
Favorite place is: Hanging Rock
My hero: Rachel Carson
My mentor: Bob Cilette

Scott Disnard

Chapter Position: Young Members Chair, Local Hikes Leader
Residence: Pascoag
Occupation: Data Analyst
I have this many siblings:
Little known fact about you: I completed the 67 4000 ft+ peaks in New England in 17 months.
Best recent book read is: Following Atticus
Your nickname or trail name: Sdizzy
Favorite camping area: Baxter State Park

Judy Van Wyk

Chapter Position: Lead hikes w/dogs (and people)
Residence: South Kingstown
Occupation: Professor of Criminology & Sociology
Favorite place is: the beach at dusk
Best recent book read is: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.
Things you admire: perseverance in the face of adversity, sacrifice for others, and the ability to laugh at yourself.
Favorite quote: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind - Gandhi
Favorite gear: all that keeps me warm.
Favorite trail: the one I’m on.

Tom Freeman

Chapter Position: Local Hikes leader
Residence: Newport
Occupation: Engineer

Leaders - send in a profile.
Members can update their profiles and photos anytime they wish by contacting the webmaster.