Board & Staff

Nena Lovinger, Board President: Nena took early retirement from the University of Oregon to devote more time to land use interests and to the stewardship of her 40-acre farm near Fall Creek. She is committed to sound land use planning and the protection of farm and forest lands from sprawl. She was a founding member of LandWatch Lane County and serves as LandWatch’s secretary. Past service: board member of and fundraiser for the Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC), member of the Lane County Parks Advisory Committee, President of the South University Neighborhood Association (Eugene). She believes that the health and integrity of the natural environment are essential to a viable future.
John Foster John Foster, Vice-President: John earned his BA at Amherst College and did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. He retired from the CIA and moved to Corvallis 1991. He has been active in the community, testifying at land use hearings on annexations and other development proposals, and participating in updating the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
Shelley Wetherell Shelley Wetherell, Secretary/Treasurer: Shelley is a founding member and current board member of Friends of Douglas County. She and her husband farm, raising wine grapes, sheep, christmas trees, and timber. She is also a US Postal Service rural letter carrier. Shelley is dedicated to the preservation of agricultural and forest lands for farm and forest uses for future generations. In 2004 she was chosen as 1000 Friends of Oregon Activist of the Year. She has herself argued and won several important farm and forest protection cases before the Land Use Board of Appeals.
Tremaine Arkley: Tremaine graduated from the University of Washington in Philosophy. He is the current president of Friends of Polk County (FOPC), a board member of the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) and founder of the Luckiamute Watershed Council. He is a strong defender of the land, the environment, civil rights and liberties. Years ago he and Gail restored their farm, located on the bench of American Bottom in Polk County, back to its natural state with vernal ponds, wet and dry prairies, and diverse native plantings. They also sell seasonal vegetables and a variety of fruits.
Robert Emmons Robert Emmons: Robert retired from the City of Eugene Parks Department to devote more time to land use interests and to the stewardship of 61 acres of farm and forest land in Fall Creek. Community service and group memberships include: Lane County Parks Advisory Committee (chair), Scobert Park Committee, Nearby Nature, Friends of Mt. Pisgah, Friends of Eugene, Oregon Natural Resources Council, 1000 Friends of Oregon, LandWatch Lane County (founding member and current president).

Tony Hayden Tony Hayden: Tony is a native Oregonian who grew up in the newspaper business in Lebanon, working on his father’s Lebanon Express and other papers as a reporter and photographer. He traveled for nearly twenty years, living all over the world. He presently operates a fine arts gallery and photography studio in Lebanon. He is active in community affairs, and served as president of the Lebanon-Sweet Home Concert Association. He sees no sense in unbridled growth, and is active in Friends of Linn County and Goal One to stop the destruction of farm land, forest land, and our communities.
Irina Just: Born and raised in Germany, Irina moved to the US in 1973 and lived in Seattle for 20 years. She met Jim Just in 1991 and together they lived in the south of France. They moved to Oregon in 1994 and bought a 30-acre farm east of Lebanon where they raise sheep, ducks, pinot noir grapes and a plethora of produce. Irina’s  passion lies in preserving agricultural lands to secure safe and healthy local food sources. She is involved with several local food groups and farmers markets and volunteers for local food distribution groups.  Irina currently serves as president of Friends of Linn County.
Michael Walker: Mike was raised in Hugo in Josephine County, Oregon. He earned a BS and MS from OSU in natural resources and resource geography. Graduate work included all but a dissertation for a Ph.D in Urban Planning/Resource Geography from University of Oregon and OSU. He is retired to Hugo from federal service with the BLM as a land use planner and environmental protection specialist involved with implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, and participating in the interdisciplinary group think process. Mike’s passion is an informed citizenry and informed decision making in Oregon’s land use planning system, and addressing cumulative impacts relating to the carrying capacity of the land. He is the Education Chair of the Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society and President of NEPA Design Group.

STAFF
Jim Just Jim Just, Senior Fellow: Jim is a long-time land use activist and has worked extensively with citizens and citizen organizations throughout Oregon. He was the founder of Friends of Linn County, a local environmental and land use citizen organization. He had a business and management career before moving to Oregon, where he and his wife Irina raise sheep, wine grapes, and timber on their farm outside of Lebanon. jim@goal1.org

Photos by Tony Hayden, Aloha Studio and Gallery