Rio Grande Chapter
Central New Mexico Group
Fred A. Helms
Fred Helms was a member of the Gulf Coast Conservation Association (now the Coastal Conservation Association), and the Travis County Audubon Society where he worked as a volunteer at its wildlife sanctuary for the Golden-cheeked Warbler from 1978 to 2021. After moving to Albuquerque in 2021, he joined the Sierra Club, and became a board member of the Bosque Chapter of Trout Unlimited where he is in charge of the chapter’s water quality testing of the Jemez River and San Antonio Creek. He is a retired Infantry officer and attorney who enjoys hiking, camping and fishing.
Sherry Noone
Sherry Noone has been a member of the Sierra Club since 1982, and has enjoyed many outings and activities in Southern California. She moved to the San Bernardino Mountains in 2002 and participated in the Mountains Group (Lake Arrowhead), and the Big Bear Bear Group (Big Bear Lake) Ex-Coms. Her commitment to environmental causes is lifelong, beginning in her childhood. She moved to Albuquerque in 2022.
Laurie Zunner
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Northern New Mexico Group
Chris Calvert
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Craig Hammond
Three years ago, my wife Lisa and I moved to New Mexico and we have since been completely captured by state’s unique natural beauty and culture. I am deeply interested in the science and policy of natural resource protection and the transition to renewable energy. By serving with the Sierra Club I hope to join the climate crisis fight and to help others enjoy and protect our beautiful state. I have been a long time donor to the Sierra Club and over the last year I’ve been engaged and volunteering with the Rio Grande Chapter. I am also an active volunteer with the Kitchen Angels, the Democratic Party of Santa Fe, the Conservation Committee of Eldorado, and the Santa Fe Conservation Trust. My love of the outdoors started with backpacking as a teenager and continues today with hiking, camping, skiing and mountain biking.
For my career background, I have a bachelors degree in biology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and PhD in Cell Biology from Yale University. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship in Immunology at Yale, I joined the Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Research Division at Eli Lilly and Company. At Lilly, I had my own research lab for many years before joining the Division leadership team where, as Senior Director of Research, I managed a group of 5-6 laboratories focused on novel therapies for diabetes. In my director role I was also a leader and liaison for Lilly research partnerships with top academic and industry institutions. After 24 years at Lilly, I retired in 2021 to pursue other interests, which include environmental issues.
Ken Hughes
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Norman Norvelle
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Joe Wells
I have served as a member of the Northern Group ExCom and member of the Northern Group and Rio Grande Chapter Political Committees. I live in Taos and serve on the Board of the Taos Land Trust as Vice Chair. I’m a lifetime member of Sierra Club.
Southern New Mexico Group
David Baake
David Baake was born and raised in El Paso, and now lives in Las Cruces. He routinely represents the Sierra Club in litigation and rulemaking, both at the state and national level. Last year, he represented the Club in successfully persuading the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board to adopt clean car and truck standards–a major victory for clean air and the climate. He has also represented the Club in federal litigation related to excess ozone pollution in New Mexico, and worked on a variety of rules designed to reduce air pollution from oil-and-gas facilities. In his free time, David enjoys backpacking in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness and traveling across Mexico with his wife.
Karen Boehler
Karen Boehler grew up in the 60s in California, where the environmental movement was picking up steam. With family and lots of Girl Scout trips, I came to love the Sierra Nevada mountains and all nature beyond. I spent most of my life traveling on a motorcycle (which meant I was outdoors while still moving), and have visited 48 US states and more than a dozen countries, mostly on bikes and focusing on state, national and international natural sites. While living in India during DJTs first term, I did volunteer work with both local and international environmental organizations, and still remain on their mailing lists.
Gayle Eads
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Mary Katherine Ray
Mary Katherine Ray was drawn to live in the outback SW New Mexico by the beauty of the land and its enchanting wildlife running the gamut from migratory birds to Mexican wolves. She has served as Wildlife chair for the chapter and on the Southern Group excom for many years.